We have been warned for some time now that Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements (MWRs) are undermining local democracy and would be sped up by captured councils and local iwi before the government passes its Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms.
As I write, the Far North District Council is rushing through more Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements with multiple iwi (and even hapū). They are giving this work priority and seeking to avoid public consultation. They are negotiating with five iwi and one hapū. The RMA specifically talks about iwi authorities; it doesn’t mention hapū.
What’s worse, brave whistleblower Councillor Davina Smolders has highlighted that the Far North MWR agreement explicitly cedes sovereignty to iwi!
In clause '2.0 Relationship to He Whakaputanga’, the text states:
What’s worse, brave whistleblower Councillor Davina Smolders has highlighted that the Far North MWR agreement explicitly cedes sovereignty to iwi!
In clause '2.0 Relationship to He Whakaputanga’, the text states:
"The Parties recognise the significance for Te Rünanga-A-Iwi-Õ-Ngāpuhi of He Whakaputanga o Te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni as a declaration of the status of Mãori as the sovereign people of Aotearoa/ New Zealand”
People need to wake up! Local councils should not be ceding our nation’s sovereignty to anyone. It is a massive constitutional matter. I'm pretty sure it is called “treason”, actually.
Enough is enough.
The Kiwi way might be to be easygoing and chilled out, but there are times when that isn’t going to cut it. We MUST take action now.
On top of this, we understand they are pushing this approach out to iwi across the country – urging them to get these agreements in place as fast as possible and before any reform to the RMA occurs.
So, if they get these agreements in place now, then unless the Government specifically revokes them via RMA reform, these agreements remain intact and virtually impossible to undo.
This is coming to a council near you, whether you like it or not. We can halt this unconstitutional brazen power grab, but only if we work together. We have the ability to make the noise required to bring attention to this, but we need the support of people like you to fund the means to do so.
Get behind the resistance.
Minister Chris Bishop needs to act, but he won't unless we create the necessary pressure. He needs to amend his RMA replacement Bills to put an end to Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements. He will argue that the new laws will stop new MWR agreements, but this misses the point – iwi and captured councils are racing to get these agreements in place before the law changes.
The Minister needs to make it clear now that these agreements will not stand, no matter when they are signed. Elected power sits with elected officials. No one else.
And Minister Simon Watts also needs to act, as the Minister for Local Government, to stop power moving from the elected to the unelected.
These agreements are taking power away from locals and elected representatives and entrenching more control into iwi. This is the reason why various iwi across the country, and weak councils, are making obtaining these agreements a priority and not roads, footpaths, water treatment.
They want more control in the hand of unelected iwi.
Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements are co-governance and preferential treatment based on race.
As Davina Smolders says, forget co-governance, this is straight-up iwi governance.
These agreements, being implemented across the country, are actively transferring power from elected councils to iwi.
In the Far North, these MWR agreements are moving through a council committee that is full of unelected representatives from the very iwi and hapū negotiating the agreements!
Talk about a massive conflict of interest.
We’re also hearing that the Far North District Council is trying to create a MWR with the iwi leaders' collective of the region – that is, a council of local iwi leaders and not just the individual iwi. It is agreement on top of agreement, binding control on top of binding control, and all stripping power and influence away from elected councillors.
What is happening in the Far North and in other parts of the country is the deliberate replacement of democracy with unelected iwi elites who get special seats at the table, influence over public assets, planning powers, and ongoing ratepayer-funded “resourcing” — all while ordinary Kiwis are shut out of the conversation.
They’re using public money.
They’re committing future councils and ratepayers to long-term obligations. No consultation. No genuine debate.
Graham posts regularly on facebook and is a staunch supporter of 'one law for all'
They want more control in the hand of unelected iwi.
Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements are co-governance and preferential treatment based on race.
As Davina Smolders says, forget co-governance, this is straight-up iwi governance.
These agreements, being implemented across the country, are actively transferring power from elected councils to iwi.
In the Far North, these MWR agreements are moving through a council committee that is full of unelected representatives from the very iwi and hapū negotiating the agreements!
Talk about a massive conflict of interest.
We’re also hearing that the Far North District Council is trying to create a MWR with the iwi leaders' collective of the region – that is, a council of local iwi leaders and not just the individual iwi. It is agreement on top of agreement, binding control on top of binding control, and all stripping power and influence away from elected councillors.
What is happening in the Far North and in other parts of the country is the deliberate replacement of democracy with unelected iwi elites who get special seats at the table, influence over public assets, planning powers, and ongoing ratepayer-funded “resourcing” — all while ordinary Kiwis are shut out of the conversation.
They’re using public money.
They’re committing future councils and ratepayers to long-term obligations. No consultation. No genuine debate.
Graham posts regularly on facebook and is a staunch supporter of 'one law for all'
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