Rūātoki Tribal Response to Bullying & Dictatorship of Te Kaunihera Kaumatua

R ŪĀTOKI TRIBAL RESPONSE TO

OF TE K A U N I H E R A K AUMATUA

(Paki Nikora, Chas Te Whetu, Te Waiārani Harawira)

Paki Nikora complains that…

Marae and hapū have lost their voice.

Because…

Paki has been, but is now no longer: - Mānai for Tauarau Marae on the Ōhinemataroa River Committee - Mānai for Tauarau Marae on the Rūātoki Tribal Executive - Mānai for Tauarau Marae on the Tūhoe Pūtaiao Trust (TPT) - Chairman of the Tauarau Marae komiti and Trustees Paki is currently: - A self-appointed Tūhoe spokesperson for Whakatane District Council - A self-appointed Tūhoe representative on the Whenua Rāhui Board

Loss of access, entitlement, benefits Paki Nikora is the Owner and Director of a private company Central Freight Lines (CFL) Ltd, which has been the funding applicant for projects in Rūātoki with the Regional Council. Examples through CFL or Te Pūtaiao Trust are gravel extraction contracts, civil defence and planting etc.

The situation Paki Nikora rejects his Hapū voice, who in 2x Ngāti Rono ki Tauarau Special General Meetings of the hapū which he convened; 1x whanau mānai and then 2x individuals - all hui voted against MLC Trustees being the voice of the hapū.

Further, these hui confirmed marae ahikā as the mānai for Nāti Rono ki Tauarau.

Disregarding these outcomes he led out a reestablishing of Trustees causing division within the Hapū, while enjoying the support of Pākeha Trustee law.

Continues to seek access to the same even though he is no longer a mānai for Rūātoki on these matters and we seek are more collective representation approach.

Tauarau Marae represented by their ahikā are affiliated members of our Tribal Authority. We operate by whakapapa. We are not established, run, managed or led by Pākeha law Trustees.

As mānai for Tauarau Marae on our Rūātoki Tribal Executive, he lobbied to us for funding for Te Pūtaiao Trust

8 of 11 Rūātoki Marae make up our Tribal Authority, we support and direct TUT. We do not feel a loss of voice, rather our focus has been on our own internal capability as a Tribal and at our Hapū roots.

Paki Nikora is no longer a Rūātoki mānai.

Paki Nikora has not accepted the growth change of Rūātoki and the emerging next generation leadership.

Paki Nikora complains that…

He should be the leader of the Tūhoe environmental response.

Because…

Personal gain

The situation

Paki Nikora is: - The Operations Manager of Te Pūtaiao Trust (TPT) - Trustee of Te Pae o Tūhoe Trust (TPOT) - A self-appointed Tūhoe representative on the Whenua Rāhui Board

As a self-appointed Tūhoe representative to Whenua Rāhui Board, he negotiated a $2m allocation to Te Pae o Tūhoe Trust of which he is also Trustee, locking the whenua up in Whenua Rāhui control for 25 years, with Te Pūtaiao Trust as the operations arm, of which he is the Operations Manager.

Paki Nikora fuelling a DOC-Whenua Rāhui divide and rule within the Iwi – wanting comparable resources to project manage his own team.

Paki Nikora then made a second application to the Whenua Rāhui as Te Pūtaiao Trust to undertake works in Te Urewera and on whānau land for which he did not have permission for. The application was made in the name of Te Reia Turei with the remainder contact details being those of Paki Nikora. Monies were paid out before proof of land consent was required.

Te Pae o Tūhoe Trust hui resolved to have election of new Trustees – 2+ years on this is yet to occur.

On 22 Feb 2020, the TPOT hui decision to elect new Trustees was ignored, instead voted on the Whenua Rāhui proposal, however new rules were imposed on this voting, i.e voters must prove land block name and number entitlement, many whānau ignored and made ineligible. Vote successful.

Hapū now seeking to pull whānau and hapū whenua out of Te Pae o Tūhoe Trust.

Minister confirmed disappointment of division caused through her entities. Confirmed that there will be no resource allocation unless there is unity of opinion within the Iwi. Paki Nikora continues to lobby for these resources as a Whenua Rāhui Board member, the significant conflict of interest is overlooked by that group, as they hear his one-sided version of affairs.

Paki Nikora complains that…

Anything to do with the Regional or District Councils should be approved by him.

Because…

Power and control

The situation

Paki has been, but is now no longer: - The Chair of the Rūātoki Farms and Lands Group

He now uses the Rūātoki Farms and Lands Group to oppose the 8 marae-hapū collective, who make up our Tribal Authority.

Paki Nikora’s trespass notice has now caused a broken relationship between the Regional Council – Ruatoki and Te Uru Taumatua.

He claims that landowners trump our Hapū and Tribal collective authority.

That division has not yet been repaired.

We have now replaced Paki’s individual representation with a Rūātoki collective hapū approach – one such as the Ōhinemataroa Awa Komiti.

We are collaborating with the Iwi office to progress roading authority status and acquiring the capacity to lead earth works, roading works and civil works, growing capability evenly and fairly throughout the Without authority Paki Nikora acting whārua. as the Landowner of the Rūātoki Farms and Lands Group trespassed to STOP the Regional Council from sharing heavy machinery equipment to support our Ōhinemataroa river clean up. Under threat, the Regional Council withdrew support.

He uses Pākeha legal structures to bully our collective of marae, i.e trespass notice, contacting Minister and media.

Paki Nikora complains that…

Individual views are democratic and that Hapū collective enterprise is outdated when it does not deliver personal-individual financial benefits.

Because…

Power and control

The situation

Paki Nikora: - Established Te Kohina o na Whānau when his hapū Ngāti Rono ki Tauarau did not back his proposals.

- Is now Deputy Chair of Te Kohina o Na Whānau. Attempting to create a mandate to equal hapū.

- Attempted to embarrass us and Tūhoe leadership by writing to Ministers of non-confidence and contacting media with false allegations in opposition to our Rūātoki Hapū-Tribal collective – see appendix for a table of media stories - As Te Kohina sought to injunct Ruatāhuna developments and numerous MLC applications against TUT. - Then replaced Te Kohina with Te Kaunihera Kaumātua o Tūhoe, designed to have a ‘trumping’ effect over TUT, Tribals and Hapū by invoking the use of the kupu Kaumatua.

- Te Kaunihera Kaumātua o Tūhoe is a legal entity established in 2018. It has absolutely no Tūhoe or Tūhoe Kaumātua mandate. It has pākeke membership, but no Tūhoe Kaumātua mandate.

Paki Nikora and members do not feel that they have access to resources, this is because their proposals are predominantly intended to benefit a few and not the many.

Paki Nikora continues to disseminate misinformation of Tūhoe matters through public domains.

There are clear abuses of Tūhoe tikana. You do not air Tuhoe business in public.

Kaunihera ‘Kaumatua’ behaviour is disgraceful and in places condoning harm and violence.

Requests to hui kanohi ki te kanohi have been declined.

Protests in other mana whenua areas is damaging the Tuhoe relationships with those Iwi.

Paki Nikora and followers support a Pākeha lense of discrimination towards his Iwi culture. They have disregarded the marae as the place of korerotahi, kanohi ki te kanohi and to whakatau kaupapa.

The Tūhoe Kaumātua from Ruatāhuna, Waikaremoana and Rūātoki unanimously reject the Kaunihera Kaumātua and all it represents including protest actions instigated by its leadership.

Appendix: Table of media stories led by Te Kaunihera Kaumatua in 2019-2021 Whakatāne Beacon

22-Jan-19

Review the answer to lack of trust

Whakatāne Beacon

23-Apr-19

Questions need straight answers

Whakatāne Beacon

13-Aug-19

Keeping Tuhoe dependant on leaders

Whakatāne Beacon

3-Dec-19

Is the Ngai Tuhoe iwi structure disintegrating?

Te Karere

Te Karere

Te Karere

Te Karere

Te Ao Maori News

Te Karere

27-Aug-20

28-Aug-20

1-Sep-20

As marae committees throughout the country secure funding from the Provincial Growth Fund to renovate and upgrade their facilities, Tūhoe marae say their iwi entity Te Uru Taumatua is trying to put a stop to them applying for the government funds. Te Okiwa McLean reports. https://www.facebook.com/tekareremaorinews/posts/3505721016158904 Ngahina Marae isn't the only Tūhoe marae to have an issue with Te Uru Taumatua attempting to block their Provincial Growth Fund application. Tātāhoata Marae in Ruatahuna has raised similar concerns and they want the iwi entity to stay out of their business. Te Okiwa McLean reports. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=316824369589110 We want leadership not dictatorship, that's according to the kaumātua council of Tūhoe and squarely aimed at Tūhoe's iwi entity, Te Uru Taumatua. The iwi group attempted to block marae renovation applications to the Provincial Growth Fund and now kaumātua claim the entity has been silencing their voices. Te Okiwa McLean has all the developing details.

1-Sep-20

https://www.facebook.com/tekareremaorinews/posts/3521124794618526 Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones responds to questions on the Provincial Growth Fund applications from Tūhoe marae and further developments with Tūhoe kaumātua who claim their voices are being silenced by Te Uru Taumatua.

2-Sep-20

https://www.facebook.com/tekareremaorinews/posts/3521124687951870 19 hapū of Tūhoe gathered at Tataihape Marae in Waimana today to find a solution to their applications for the PGF funds. Although Te Uru Taumatua say that they will carry out these issues, the hapū don't agree.

3-Sep-20

https://www.facebook.com/TeAoMaoriNews/posts/2058326697637534 Tūhoe marae have today welcomed the news that the government will invest $7 million from the Provincial Growth Fund for renovations and much needed infrastructural work across 19 marae in the rohe. Kei a Te Okiwa McLean te roanga o ngā kōrero. https://www.facebook.com/tekareremaorinews/posts/3527378647326474

Whakatāne Beacon

16-Sep-20

Tuhoe iwi feeling fallout of currrent regime

Whakatāne Beacon

13-Nov-20

Tuhoe – the iwi has spoken

Appendix: Table of media stories led by Te Kaunihera Kaumatua in 2019-2021 Whakatāne Beacon

27-Nov-20

Te Komiti o Runga retaliation process

Whakatāne Beacon

23-Dec-20

Beneficiaries denied open debate

TVNZ

25-Apr-21

Te Karere

23-Apr-21

RNZ

27- Apr-21

Waatea News

27- Apr-21

Waatea News

27- Apr-21

NZ Herald

28- Apr-21

Te Karere

10-May-21

NZ Herald

12-May-21

Stuff

12-May-21

Waatea News

12-May-21

Whakatane Beacon

12-May-21

Calls for resignation of tribal leadership

Whakatane Beacon

12-May-21

Maori Land Court rules against Rūatoki Tribal Elections

Te Karere

24-May-21

Te Karere

31-May-21

Tūhoe protestors call for iwi leader to resign over claims of 'bully tactics' against hapū tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/t-hoe-protestors-call-iwi-leader-resign-over-claims-bully-tactics-against-hapu Tūhoe kaumātua call for Tamati Kruger’s resignation from iwi authority https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgL41iciVu4 Tūhoe protest against their own https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/441324/tuhoe-protest-against-their-own Hapū protest Tūhoe dictatorship https://www.waateanews.com/waateanews/x_news/MjcxNTY/Hapu-protest-Tuhoe-%22dictatorship%22 Marae revamp sparks backlash in Tūhoe https://www.waateanews.com/waateanews/x_news/MjcxNTg/Paakiwaha/WNEWS-27.04:-Marae-revamp-sparks-backlash-inTuhoe?story_id=MjcxNTg Tūhoe protest against their own https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/tuhoe-protest-against-their-own/N5FGZSRHFQV25SMK3JWOT6L5LU/ #CHAIR Tame Iti asks the chair of Tūhoe rūnanga to reconsider some of their recent decisions https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=940992903327310 More kaumatua protest against Te Uru Taumatua https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/local-focus-more-kaumatua-protests-against-te-uru-taumata/FCIUKQ7SRX7P33WUYTTFHXP6ME/ Tūhoe hapū continue to ask for tribal leadership resignation https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-democracy-reporting/300305806/thoe-hap-continue-to-ask-for-tribal-leadershipresignation Stolen chairs strike sparks in Tūhoe leadership https://www.waateanews.com/waateanews/x_news/MjcyOTE/Paakiwaha/Stolen-chairs-strike-sparks-in-Tuhoe-leadership-row

Tūhoe hapū protest for land to be returned from Iwi entity to hapū https://www.facebook.com/tekareremaorinews/videos/750266505645107 “Whānako whakapapa!” – Protests continue against Te Uru Taumatua https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqTA8u5x4Uk