Matua Kahurangi: Te Urewera mismanagement.....

Te Urewera mismanagement: Tūhoe leadership failing the land and its people

For years, the Urewera’s have been celebrated as a showcase of iwi stewardship and environmental guardianship. But the reality is far bleaker. Tūhoe leadership is presiding over mismanagement, neglect, and a shocking lack of accountability, turning what should be a model of co-governance into a cautionary tale of waste and incompetence.

Heather du Plessis-Allan: This is the problem with Māori co-governance

I was slightly surprised to read an article in the Herald today [23/2/22] in which Maori Development Minister Willie Jackson says Kiwis have “nothing to be scared of” when it comes to Māori co-governance of our assets.

But if you’ve been following the story of Te Urewera National Park, you’ll know that's not strictly true.

Graeme Reeves: Tuna and Te Urewera Board

Tuna and Te Urewera Board (TUB), Trustees of Tuhoe (TUT) and Director-General of Conservation (DOC) - TUNA v TE UREWERA BOARD [2022] NZHC 2924 [8 November 2022] – Application for judicial review.

The applicant in this matter was Mr Tuna a resident of the Urewera.  Mr Tuna objected to the hasty destruction by fire of the network of huts throughout the Urewera by TUT the operational arm of TUB.

Mr Tuna asked the Court to grant an interim order requiring TUT to,” immediately cease its programme of destruction of listed huts pending final disposition of this proceeding.”

He was successful.  I congratulate him for having the courage to bring this proceeding on behalf of all New Zealanders.

The case, even at this early stage not knowing what the ultimate outcome might be raises some interesting issues worthy, in my opinion, of discussion.

Heather du Plessis-Allan: The unfolding Tuhoe case is an example of why co-governance doesn't work

If you’re interested in the emerging co-governance debate, here’s a tip: Keep an eye on what’s going on with Tuhoe and the DOC huts and the area formerly known as Te Urewera National Park.

I think this is becoming the most of obvious example of why co-governance doesn’t work. 

Quick recap: back in 2014 Chris Finlayson reached a treaty settlement with Tuhoe, and part of that allowed the iwi to govern Te Urewera National Park with DOC.

Heather du Plessis-Allan: This is the problem with Māori co-governance

I was slightly surprised to read an article in the Herald today in which Maori Development Minister Willie Jackson says Kiwis have “nothing to be scared of” when it comes to Māori co-governance of our assets.

But if you’ve been following the story of Te Urewera National Park, you’ll know that's not strictly true.

Te Urewera National Park – as in Lake Waikaremoana, one of NZ's great walks – has been closed since August and only reopened again 9 days ago.

Why? Because it’s no longer run by DOC only.

For the last eight years, it’s also been run by the local iwi tuhoe under a co-governance model.

The problem is that most of the huts and many of the swing bridges were in dire need of repair but the iwi wouldn’t allow the repairs.