Chairman’s Report

Nau mai haere mai ki te rīpoata a tau o Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa

There were 47 people on Whakaari at the time it erupted on 9 December 2019. Nearly half lost their lives. Most of those who survived suffered severe and lasting injuries. Two White Island Tours staff members, Hayden Bryan Marshall-Inman and Tipene Maangi, died and two more, Kelsey Waghorn and Jake Milbank, were seriously hurt. In the days and weeks that followed we responded with manaakitanga: expressing our heartfelt aroha and compassion, in shelter and kai, tears and embrace. Tribute is due to those who were at the forefront of the rescues, emergency response and the subsequent recovery mission, to those in the Whakatāne community who lent their support in a multitude of ways and to the exceptional and dedicated medical teams from around the motu and internationally whose intense and dedicated work with survivors continued over many, many months. Our focus remains on the bereaved families and those who have been injured. Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa will host a remembrance event on the first anniversary, with them at the centre.

The global pandemic, resulting in the March lockdown, created a new and unprecedented challenge. Led by marae and hapū, Ngāti Awa responded to the immediate needs of those most at risk.

While responding to these events, we have also had to work hard to develop and implement a recovery plan, which the Chief Executive sets out in her report. We will continue to deal with the twin impacts of the eruption and COVID 19 in the years ahead as steadfastly as we can. We remain here: it is our home, it is our history, it is our future. He kōrero whakakapi māku. He mihi aroha tēnei ki a koe Koro Joe, mo āu mahi whakakipakipa i a Ngāti Awa i roto i nga tau maha, kua pahure ake. He aha ra he korero māku, mōu i kawe i te nui o nga kaupapa ā iwi, ki ōna whakatutukitanga, hei painga mo tātou o Ngāti Awa. Noku te honore ki te whai i o tapuwae i roto i tenei tūranga heamana mo te iwi. Kia tau iho ngā tauwhirotanga ki runga i a korua ko Bunty me te whānau.

Mā te Atua tātau e manaaki e tiaki ngā wā katoa

Naaku noa Mark (Joe) Harawira

Ko te wāhi e hono ā-whakapapa, e hono ā-ngakau ana.

The places that connect you to your kinship is a connection of special significance.