Waitangi Day 2021
On Waitangi Day Tā Tipene addressed the crowd at Te Rau Aroha Marae in Awarua, highlighting the importance of Murihiku Regeneration – a collaboration between three Papatipu Rūnanga of Murihiku.
Murihiku Regeneration has been established to work closely and collaboratively with the crown, giving voice to the Treaty partnership, to ensure a clear, coherent plan for a prosperous Southland. We encourage you to contribute your ideas around the four pou (Social, Cultural, Environment and Economic), and where you want to contribute as the kaupapa develops.
Over the last year Tā Tipene and the Office of Upoko have been working closely and collaboratively with the crown. Through this work, they have gained recognition for Murihiku Regeneration, and the role it will play in ensuring an intergenerational approach to giving voice to the Treaty partnership.
This work will support our communities through the next 60 years, and offers territorial authorities and regional government a much stronger voice with central government and connection with their communities.
With the Tiwai decision, we now know we have up to four years - but we won’t be complacent or take the foot off the throttle. We need to get our plan of action underway this year and ensure that government supports us with that work. This is an example where Iwi has a rightful place at the table, and has added considerable value to negotiations, discussions and outcomes.
The government will be looking to lead a Just Transitions process from Wellington, working with the region. This is something we welcome and endorse. We will be looking to ensure we work with all facets of the community in an open, transparent and disciplined way.
We are now working with Wellington, both with government department Chief Executives, and with Ministers Group. We are also working closely with Te Rūnanga and reaching out to regional and local entities to pull together an approach we can all support.
Some of the key programmes of work include:
- Engaging with Rio Tinto and the government around closure and remediation - something that will need to go hand in hand.
- Developing a region-wide environmental pou workstream, that focuses on jobs and our environment.
- Working with the region on a workforce plan that is underpinned by good data and focuses on supporting current industries to adapt, along and also new industries.
- Adopting an education and skills approach that’s about creating, and supporting rangatahi pathway development for Year 7-13 students, and also skills and transitions for adults into work.
- Establishing leadership and development for rangatahi, for our trainers and also to help build capability between Iwi, local government and central government.
In addition we will be looking at developing a Master Plan that will support our vision and approach.
More information
If you were unable to attend, a video highlights package is available on the Ngāi Tahu website.
Posted: 26 January 2021