Matatā-based iwi Ngāti Rangitihi will remain a part of Te Kotahitanga o Te Arawa after receiving a 65% majority support to withdraw at a recent preliminary hui which falls short of the 75% majority required under Te Arawa Fisheries Trust Deed.
The final results released by Elections New Zealand this week show that 65% of Ngāti Rangitihi iwi members who attended the hui voted in favour of the resolution to withdraw from Te Arawa Fisheries.
The final results released by Elections New Zealand this week show that 65% of Ngāti Rangitihi iwi members who attended the hui voted in favour of the resolution to withdraw from Te Arawa Fisheries.
The withdrawal from Te Arawa Fisheries has been an onerous process for the iwi according to Te Mana o Ngāti Rangitihi Trust Chairman Graham Pryor.
He says the ballot was an opportunity for the iwi to take control of all its customary and commercial fisheries rights and assets.
“Although we did not receive the support required by Te Arawa Fisheries to move forward in the withdrawal process the opportunity we exercised for Ngāti Rangitihi to assert its mana as an iwi has been encouraging,” says Mr Pryor.
“We will honour the result of those who wish for Te Arawa Fisheries to continue to manage our assets on behalf of Ngati Rangitihi.”
Not being able to meet the 75% majority required by the Te Arawa Fisheries Trust Deed has put an end to the formal process of withdrawal but Mr Pryor says the Trust will continue to support efforts to improve the performance of Te Arawa Fisheries and by extension to increase the current benefits the iwi receives from Te Arawa Fisheries.
“Ngāti Rangitihi is entitled to more than the $20,000 it currently receives from its share of $2.95M in fisheries assets managed by Te Arawa Fisheries and we will be looking to work alongside other iwi within Te Arawa Fisheries to maximize benefits for our iwi,” he says.
ENDS
He says the ballot was an opportunity for the iwi to take control of all its customary and commercial fisheries rights and assets.
“Although we did not receive the support required by Te Arawa Fisheries to move forward in the withdrawal process the opportunity we exercised for Ngāti Rangitihi to assert its mana as an iwi has been encouraging,” says Mr Pryor.
“We will honour the result of those who wish for Te Arawa Fisheries to continue to manage our assets on behalf of Ngati Rangitihi.”
Not being able to meet the 75% majority required by the Te Arawa Fisheries Trust Deed has put an end to the formal process of withdrawal but Mr Pryor says the Trust will continue to support efforts to improve the performance of Te Arawa Fisheries and by extension to increase the current benefits the iwi receives from Te Arawa Fisheries.
“Ngāti Rangitihi is entitled to more than the $20,000 it currently receives from its share of $2.95M in fisheries assets managed by Te Arawa Fisheries and we will be looking to work alongside other iwi within Te Arawa Fisheries to maximize benefits for our iwi,” he says.
ENDS
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