Speaking with one voice
Just over one month into the New Year and 2019 is already shaping up to be a significant one for the
Far North and for Northland.
Last week work began in Kawakawa on Te Hononga, the Hundertwasserinspired community hub that will see the council’s library and service centre housed under one roof, with a gallery, community workshop, and new public toilets and showers. Getting this project from concept to construction has taken considerable effort, and full credit must go all involved.
As deputy mayor Tania McInnes said on Friday, the project was made possible because of the Kawakawa Hundertwasser Park Charitable Trust and Nga¯ti Hine working closely together, in partnership with local and central government. Those words carried much greater significance than many gathered in Kawakawa on Friday morning may have realised.
The day before, Northland’s mayors and Tai Tokerau Iwi chairs (Te Kahu o Taonui) signed a landmark agreement enshrining that spirit of ‘working in partnership’. This agreement has the potential to be a blueprint for iwi and local government collaboration across New Zealand. It supports closer collaboration on social, economic, cultural and environmental issues. That is unique.
So how will this actually make a difference? Following the 2013 elections, the Northland councils began working much more closely on issues that affected us all, such as roading. An early win was persuading the NZTA to designate Mangakahia Rd a state highway. I will always remember the look of amazement on the faces of NZTA officials. I don’t know if they had seen four councils speaking as one before, but they certainly hadn’t seen it in Northland. That very clearly demonstrated how hugely powerful speaking with one voice can be. The agreement signed last Thursday means we can speak to Wellington and the nation with a united voice.
Not all those involved in discussions have signed the agreement (although the door remains open if they change their minds). Some hapu¯ believe it undercuts their mana whenua and sovereignty, while others fear it could limit local body decision-making. I want to reassure Northlanders that the agreement won’t replace existing relationships or agreements hapu¯ have. Nor will it replace statutory powers or strategic plans that councils operate under.
What the relationship agreement will do is improve communication and collaboration between local government and tangata whenua in Northland. As partners, we can more effectively tackle the social, economic, cultural and environmental issues facing us. That has to be good for everyone.
"What the relationship agreement will do is improve communication and collaboration between local government and tangata whenua in Northland."