Rūātoki Tribal Response to the Misinformation

RŪĀTOKI RESPONSE TO MISINFORMATION: Re: Live, videos and broadcasts, April 30th, 6.12pm and wider television networks SHARING FACTS

Distorting the Truth: Examples – direct quotes from the live video’s  There has been some bullying within our community particularly with some of the projects.

The Facts -

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Not on here to run people down – but what people need to know is the pono of the korero.

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I’m a taxpayer. Dual citizen. Its smart of us to

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Two Māhurehure Hapū members were congratulated at the Matariki Tāpuapua celebrations at Te Waimana for becoming an applicant of the PFG fund.

Te Māhurehure hapū was not aware that an application had been made on their behalf.

The bullying started with Te Ahi Kōmau who rejected Te Māhurehure Hapū repeated requests for information on their PGF application.

Te Ahi Kōmau advised the Hapū that a Hapū endorsement was not required – just a ‘sign off’ from two Te Māhurehure Trustees. Not all of the Trustees supported the sign-off.

Te Ahi Kōmau declined sharing the PGF application with the Hapū.

Te Ahi Kōmau repeatedly declined a hapū hui.

Four Te Māhurehure Hapū whānau had no choice but to file an injunction with the Māori Land Court to request the removal of the Māhurehure Trustees Using name calling and derogatory statements on placards in protests is bullying This is dishonest and untrue. There are images of placards that name and degrade specific people in current Iwi and Tribal leadership roles Calling a 3hr protest to air your individual disagreements with the NZ public and at no time invite or ask Hapū, Tribal, TUT or any one personally named in the first instant to talk.

This clearly indicates no intention to resolve any kaupapa This is not how Tūhoe confront their issues, haere kē kanohi ki te kanohi, ki te hui.

Toi Iti, is one of the Directors of the commercial company TAK Building Ltd. This is owned by Te Ahi Kōmau Charitable Trust. This trust is owned by Toi Iti and Tame Iti.

You can See this by…

-Timeline created by Injunction family applicants

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Photo of signs – Friday 23rd April TV1 News clips – April 24th 6.50pm Te Karere news – 23rd April 6.30pm Lives – April 30th -6.12pm Facebook post - May 2nd NZ Company office – website

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take government funding: A member of Te Ahi Kōmau. We came up with the idea of funding.

Everyone around the motu could apply.

Applied. Were successful.

It was not about putting money in my pocket.

There is no scam. Not hiding korero.

Challenge anyone who says this was about profit for Tame Iti. We have different opinion on Tūhoetana.

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Applied for funding for Te Māhurehure, Otenuku, Paneteure and Rāroa Marae.

Next minute stone throwing.

Bullying is when CE is going to Wellington,

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Te Ahi Kōmau applied for and were approved approximately $960k of PGF Funding Toi Iti – Project Manager.

Toi Iti was confirmed as owner and operator of Te Ahi Kōmau Trust, and at the same time Trustee and Executive Treasurer of Te Māhurehure Hapū.

These conflicts were not declared.

The unauthorised use of Te Māhurehure hapū financial records were used to give Te Ahi Kōmau Trust credibility, which is fraud.

Toi Iti took advantage of his positions in the hapū to access PGF funding and the funding would be paid directly in to their bank account.

We are not against Government funding.

Government funding to Tūhoe has to be fair and equitable, without the elements that create division.

TUT filters out these elements to ensure that Tūhoetana is not compromised.

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No. Only one view on Tūhoetana. Tūhoetana occurs by the will and want of Ngai Tūhoe.

Iwi view created by its Tribals. Tribal views from hapū, hapū from whānau.

Individual views erode Tūhoetana.

Tame Iti is a Tūhoe person expressing an individual view Fulfilling your personal obligations to your hapū, tribal and Iwi ignites and builds your ahi kā authority, strengthening your Tūhoetana.

-Tribal’s are an idea from Te Whiti Tekau. A valley wide response and need to unify to be strong against colonisation.

-Tribal’s are made up of the strong majority of hapu within the valleys of Rūātoki, Ruatahuna, Te Waimana and Waikaremoana.

- Court dates - Injunction letters - Letter to Minister Jones

Tame Iti and Toi Iti approached individuals and trustees and bypass the hapū.

The Hapū had to fight to have their voice heard and acted on.

The Injunction whānau of Te Māhurehure hapū did not want pākehā intervention, but had no choice. Forced to go to Māori Land Court.

Paneteure Marae the same.

Otenuku Marae Trustees calling police on their own ahikā.

Tribal was invited to Te Māhurehure hapū hui to present our Rūātoki Marae Development Plan.

Te Ahi Kōmau confirmed they successfully received the funds

New election: PGF dismantled.

Ahead of new budget all surpluses to be returned. This applies across the whole country. TUT had nothing to do with ending PGF contracts, it was the Government’s decision.

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The Hapu initiated the stop of the PGF process first.

making phone call saying don’t give that fulla money.

Other Issues Mana Motuhake o Tūhoe

Tribal received confirmation from hapū Secretary that Te Māhurehure would like to participate in Rūātoki Marae Development Plan, putting forward two hapū ahikā.

- Te Māhurehure hapū agreed to trial out Marae Development Plan which saw Tame Iti attend the pōhiri in support.

- 20th August 2020 – Te Māhurehure member sent an email to MBIE & CE to stop PGF funding process and warning of dysfunction it was creating in the community.

- Tribal also asked TUT to investigate the PFG Fund and its back door entry in to Rūātoki, in to Tūhoe - PGF was undermining Tribal priorities and process in achieving a collective approach to Rūātoki Marae Development.

- CE sent one email seeking a hui with Labour Party Ministers which was not responded to.

- The CE was working to preserve the mana of the Political Compact by which the Crown were severely dishonouring.

- CE did not at any time or in any way say not to fund Tame Iti or Te Ahi Kōmau.

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A Tūhoe survival mode against Crown and Colonisation.

Built on Tūhoe unity - kotahitana.

Te Mana Motuhake o Tūhoe weakness is individualism.

The Political Compact is an agreement by the Crown to uphold Te Mana Motuhake o Tūhoe.

This is because colonisation continues today.

Pākehā values have a strong grip over our Tūhoe values: - We allow Legal Trustees to undermine our Kaumātua and our hapū.

- We use pākehā laws to threaten and oppress our own whānau. Police called to trespass our cooks.

Our Whare Tipuna are our bastion of Mana Motuhake. Without them we have no other haven of safety, where Tūhoe values live and breathe.

Our Ahikā have been fighting for identity. For belonging. For Tūhoe values and because of that our next generation.

Ahikā have not been fighting PGF funding or government funding, but the need to progress together, to align, to work together.

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Teina’s email – Aug 20, 2020 CE email – Aug 21, 2020.

Tribal Minutes February 2020 – Owhakatoro Marae, Rūātoki Marae Development agreed and supported.

23rd February invited to the Te Māhurehure hapū hui

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Being paid to work on your marae is ok?

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Landowners versus tūranawaewae

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Tūhoe Settlement is an example of Crown collaboration – PGF is no different.

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Hapū are now empowered to make decisions for their collective communities that advance them and confront issues that threaten them.

There is now no need to rely on government programs/ funding that allow individual entities to profit and benefit We have a history of failed government initiatives and marae funding over the years that have left a trail of mess and destruction to our own relationships, hapū and marae The marae is a wāhi tapu.

It is not an economic asset.

Its where our atua and our tīpuna come to support us.

A space you go and you can experience divinity.

Financial gain corrupts our whakapapa to the divine. The need for livelihoods are important.

But going into a space where generations of grandparents have given their heart to the marae. This sharing created a spirit of joy and security. Just to see each other. To laugh. To be happy.

Government funding has now forced a view that the marae should be a space to give to individuals and not the individual giving to the marae. To be paid. To expect the marae to give financial benefits to individuals does not improve the spirit of giving and of joy.

Landowners treat Papatuanuku as real estate as an asset even.

Landowners source their authority in pākehā law.

Landowners say mine and me.

Tūranawaewae says ours and the unborn.

Tūranawaewae worry about the health and wellbeing of Papa.

Landowners worry about resource management and council relationships.

Tūranawaewae worry about the next generation – Mate atu he tētēkura, ara mai he tētēkura.

Ka hoki koe ki tōu tūranawaewae.

We belong to the whenua, the whenua don’t belong to us. Nō te whenua tātau, ehara te whenua nō tātau.

Tūhoe Settlement involved the mandate of all Tūhoe Hapū.

Tūhoe people worked on the Tūhoe Settlement. Not with Crown people, but amongst themselves.

Tūhoe people loudly and widely voted in the Tūhoe Settlement.

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UNDRA Reserve Act Ngai Tūhoe website SMP Political Compact

Bullying – Waikirikiri Marae

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Trustee versus Ahikā

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Tūhoe Settlement got delayed because Te Urewera was taken off the table due to Raids. Te Urewera was a cornerstone to settlement. The Crown punished Tūhoe with those actions.

PGF allowed individual companies to profit by ‘marae’ development prospects.

PGF did not encourage open transparency by only requiring trustee approval and not hapū approval.

There is nothing the same between Tūhoe Settlement and PGF collaborators.

PGF broke principles of Compact and the spirit of Tūhoe settlement by coming through the back door, individuals took advantage of personal gain, were not honest about it with the hapū and did not declare it to the hapū.

Waikirikiri and Te Pūtere voluntarily withdrew from Te Komiti o Runa. This is the same for Ngāhina Marae.

TKOR then advised of the consequences of that withdrawal. There is no singling out of those marae. The same consequences apply to all Rūātoki hapū.

Rūātoki hapū are working very seriously to undo old habits and restore accountable and collective standards amongst themselves and with each other.

Waikirikiri, Te Pūtere and Ngāhina can re-join at any stage. The door is always open.

TKOR is not ‘punishing’ anyone – just trying to make the situation clear.

TKOR is respecting the decision of those hapū.

If you withdraw it means that you do not want to be a part of TKOR. Decisions that fragment Rūātoki aims should have consequences. Those who are doing the mahi should reap those rewards in rebuilding our shared standards. TKOR is not a government agency. If you are not putting in, you should not receive nor expect the same as those hapū doing the work. The same as in any whānau.

Trustees - Do AGM’s and monthly hui sometimes.

- Funding applications

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Deed of Settlement

-Letters received by Tribal from marae 10th September 2020 22nd September 2020

Compliance responsibilities for marae buildings under Māori Reservation Act. Ahikā - A repository of hapū knowledge, the keepers and sharers of knowledge.

- Are the face of our ancestors. Compared to Trustees who are the face of the Māori Land Court. And so is neither mauri or mana.

- Always there. No matter who it is or what it is. Always there.

- The collective endeavour means that you are the mauri of your hapū.

- Face to face relationships.

- Meet and connect whānau into the wider hapū community.

- Organise working bees for the upkeep of the marae.

- Look after the manaaki responsibilities of the hapū, the shopping for various kaupapa, organise the cooking and cleaning, the butchering of kai, especially where whānau can’t manage those themselves.

- Make decisions about who goes where in the urupā.

- Imagine strategies for the health and social worries of the hapū.

- Have no discrimination against any hapū member, because all the same.

- Look after photos and whakapapa connection.

- Uphold the kinship connections with other hapū and ensure participation happens on their other marae, helping in their kitchens, their pae.

- Come up with activities to bring people together and look after each other.

- Give from your own cupboards, whether, kai, your time or materials.

Everyone helps.

- Don’t require hui because already spending time with each other.

- Knowing the waiata that bind connections.

- Involves a lifetime of contribution, that no one is counting.

Te Ahi Kōmau is accusing TUT and TKOR of being dictators, however its own actual conduct and behaviour is that of a dictator: - Tame Iti and Toi Iti are the Te Ahi Kōmau Trust.

- That Trust owns Te Ahi Kōmau Company.

- The Company used Māhurehure financial accounts to secure PGF Funding. They did not have hapū approval.

- No approval. Accountable to no one.

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TUT and TKOR are dictators

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People didn’t know what they were signing up for in terms of Tūhoe settlement. They never would have supported if they knew they were giving up their individual rights.

If that’s mana Motuhake then we never signed up for it.

- Just Tāmati Kruger version of mana Motuhake Trusts & Farm Trusts – ie Te Pae o Tūhoe / Tātai Whetu Trust, Marae Trustees are dictators then.

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TUT serves the Political Compact a feature of the Tūhoe Settlement which was determined by the Tūhoe Settlement Deed. It was not created by TUT. TUT is being faithful to what was determine by Tūhoe.

Te Komiti o Runa is a long running voice of all Rūātoki hapū, running since 1940’s. It works by the voice of all Hapū setting the direction for the wharua.

And while hapū are free to disagree, all must act faithfully to bring about the wishes of the majority.

In terms of Crown relationships, that is determined by the direction set by the tribals Once done, those Tribals then direct TUT to respond, act, and empower the outcome.

While cautiously and diligently watching out for individualism and dependency caused by government handouts.

TUT does not dictate. TUT has very low decision making influence and authority. TUT acts on the direction of its Tribals.

These are all renewed powers for our Tribals. This is taking time to unlearn old habits before taking on board a new world of responsibility and leadership capability that our next generation can inherit.

The aim is to raise everyone up – operate from the same level.

Individualism is not squashed as a result of collectivism.

Tauira: Supported on the pae, but individual ability to express your talents on the ātea. Free to express individuality, that is then supported by the pae.

Kaikarana. Cooks. Talents are welcomed and needed.

This is not about individuality, but about individual gain at the hidden cost of others.

When you put the needs of yourself ahead of the needs of others, that is the problem.

When you have become a shareholder or land owner you have given away your rights, traded that in for a beneficiary status.

You have given away your rights to the Trustees the legal owner.

Ratification vote.

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MLC online website Turnbull Library Minute Books

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Those Trustees can then ‘dictate’ to the beneficiaries because they are considered the ‘legal owners.”

Farm Trusts – Māori Land Court trusts have long been ‘dictators’ to whānau.

You are used to giving up your individual rights. There is no difference in giving up your rights to the Land Trust or its managing group.

Believed in this system for so long, now expect these entitlements elsewhere.

Beneficiaries are legal definitions. They are created by Māori Land Courts and pākehā Trust Law they are not created by whakapapa and mana whenua.

Our people did not determine shares and shares rights. Māori Land Court determined.

Shares determined by who had access to Native Land Court hearings.

There was nothing fair about this process.

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The Land trust structure is dictated by the Māori Land Court Legislation which is how the loyalists appear in our whenua and rohe. (Te Arawa, Ngāti Manawa, Kahungungu, Turanga)

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TUT does not ask for that denial of whakapapa. TUT has responsibilities. It recognises mana whenua and mana tanata. Only. It has no power, except for that granted to it by its Tribal’s. It has responsibilities to Te Urewera which is not created by shareholder or Māori Land Court laws. Its approach is set out in Te Kawa o Te Urewera.