Ceremony marks handover of site
The gifting of 11 Mission St has been described as a significant step taken in “true bi-cultural fashion”.
A ceremony yesterday commemorated the transfer of the historic 11 Mission St site from the Tauranga City Council to O¯ tamataha Trust.
Trustees, representatives of the Elms Foundation and members of Tauranga City Council were present.
An agreement has been signed that will lease the land back to The Elms Foundation — stewards of The Elms heritage site next door
— at a peppercorn rent of $1 a year.
Puhirake Ihaka, chairman of O¯ tamataha Trust, said the day marked the acknowledgement of who he, the trust and wha¯nau were: mana whenua of the site.
“Those who occupy this particular spot, The Elms Foundation, you and us, together we forge a future in terms of the use of this space and how we are going to move forward together in our relationship.
“A small place but absolutely immense in its symbolic significance to us. It is 156 years since 1864 and its confiscation.”
The official transfer in May concluded a nearly two-year controversial decision-making process. The council bought the 1400sq m section in 2006 to secure it for the expansion of The Elms.
In 2018, the council proposed to give the section to the O¯ tamataha Trust, which represents the property interests of Nga¯ti Tapu and Ngai Tamarawaho.
After a fraught series of decisions by the former council, the new council voted to give the land to the trust last year.
Elms Foundation trustee Alan Withy said he as a Pa¯keha¯ had learned, and was continuing to learn, how to conduct bi-cultural engagements.
“I take great satisfaction from that learning process and I look forward to furthering the implementation of what Tauranga is promoting at the moment, which is to eventually create a heritage area in and around The Elms.
“It is a very significant step forward, which has to be travelled in a true bi-cultural fashion.”
Withy said he wanted to escape the events that had transpired around the ownership of 11 Mission St over the past two years, and instead work together “in a way that those who signed the Treaty in 1840 intended”.
Mayor Tenby Powell said being at the site was a spiritual experience and also touched on the moments in council chambers that led to the moment.
“There were split views of what we should do, and as I said in the council meeting, there was no doubt in my mind that we had to do what was right.
“And it is right that we are sitting here today.”
Powell hoped the community could grow from the occasion.
“It is about forgiveness and it is about moving forward, but moving forward together. This concept of kotahitanga is very important to me.”
Powell said historical and physical links along the Te Papa Peninsula could enhance the community’s knowledge while also drawing communities together.
Driver arrested
A person was arrested and charged after a short police pursuit yesterday. Police were notified about 3.44am of a sighting of an alleged stolen vehicle on Otumoetai Rd. Police attempted to pull the car over and it allegedly fled.
Councils not insolvent Local Government New Zealand has given public assurance it has no indication that five councils, including those of Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty, are insolvent. The statement followed a request from Ma¯ori Council executive director Matthew Tukaki for the Auditor-general to audit the councils due to concerns of potential insolvency.
Text-a-park not available Text-a-park is no longer available at Tauranga City Council parking machines. There are still plenty of ways to pay using the Paymypark app, cash and card. You will need to enter the licence number for your vehicle at the parking machine, then pay for your parking as usual.
Dan Carter at Gala Dinner Rugby legend Dan Carter will be a guest of this year’s Tauranga Gala Dinner. The annual event, in its eighth year, will be at Trustpower Arena on September 25.
Groundwater allocations Groundwater allocations for Ma¯ori-owned land can now be viewed on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s indicative groundwater availability and consented allocation online tool by applying the Ma¯ori land layer. The data has come from publicly available information from the Ma¯ori Land Court. To apply the Ma¯ori land layer, navigate to the map you need, click the layers button and select “Ma¯ori Land”.