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PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday 26 February 2020
Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa
The formal lodgement of Tai Whenua, Tai Tangata, Tai Ao – Te Atiawa Iwi Environmental Management Plan, with relevant local authorities and the Department of Conservation was completed on Tuesday 25 February.
This lodgement follows the formal launch of Tai Whenua, Tai Tangata, Tai Ao by Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa with its members at the annual general meeting held at Kairau Marae in December 2019.
Tai Whenua, Tai Tangata, Tai Ao is an iwi environmental management planning document which sets out the views and expectations of Te Atiawa regarding environmental resource management within the tribal rohe (tribal area). It provides a basis for engagement with Te Atiawa and its hapū on a broad range of environmental and resource management issues.
Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa Chairperson Liana Poutu says that the launch of Tai Whenua, Tai Tangata, Tai Ao marked an expression of rangatiratanga (right to exercise authority) and kaitiakitanga (guardianship) from ngā uri o Te Atiawa (descendants of Te Atiawa) over the environmental and cultural resources within our Te Atiawa iwi rohe.
“The formal lodgement with our local authorities and DOC now provides guidance to those organisations on how the expression of our Te Atiawa values, as set out in Tai Whenua, Tai Tangata, Tai Ao, can be recognised and provided for throughout the regulatory system”.
Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa Pouwhakahaere (Chief Executive) Hemi Sundgren says that Tai Whenua, Tai Tangata, Tai Ao is a working document to guide and inform decision making by our iwi, hapū, and whānau as kaitiaki of our Te Atiawa iwi rohe. It ensures our tikanga are relevant and responsive to an ever-changing environment.
“Tai Whenua Tai Tangata, Tai Ao should not be a replacement for face to face dialogue with our iwi, hapū and whānau. Rather, it should assist others to understand matters of significance to Te Atiawa and inform any direct discussions with us”.
Under the Resource Management Act, local authorities must consider iwi planning documents that are endorsed by iwi authorities when preparing or altering regional policy statements, regional plans and district plans. Tai Whenua, Tai Tangata, Tai Ao is the Iwi Environmental Management Plan for the Te Atiawa rohe in Taranaki.
ENDS
Tai Whenua, Tai Tangata, Tai Ao – Te Atiawa Iwi Environmental Management Plan can be viewed online
https://teatiawa.iwi.nz/tai-whenua-tai-tangata-tai-ao/
MEDIA SPOKESPEOPLE
Liana Poutu – Pouwhakarae / Chairperson
Hemi Sundgren – Pouwhakahaere / Chief Executive
MEDIA CONTACT
Anaru White
comms@teatiawa.iwi.nz
