PM makes first visit to Chatham Islands
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has made her first visit to the Chatham Islands where locals spoke of the cost of living and housing “crisis” while sharing hopes for the future, including a much-vaunted hydropower station.
Ardern’s visit coincided with iwi Nga¯ti Mutunga o Wharekura signing an agreement in principle for their Treaty of Waitangi settlement with the Crown, including important historical acknowledgements and $16 million in redress.
Ardern also opened a community building and museum, an occasion that drew in a decent proportion of the close to 700 inhabitants of the main island — also known as Re¯kohu and Wharekauri.
Ardern was to have visited earlier in her five years as PM but Covid-19 had got in the way.
This time the forecast, the skies opening up right in the middle of the po¯whiri — alluded to by many of the kaiko¯rero (speakers), along with the deep pockets of the Crown, both receiving chuckles.
“It feels very special, privileged to be able to be here and for people to give up their time to come,” Ardern said of the huge turnout.
But islanders face similar challenges to back on the mainland, with a “housing crisis” and rising cost of living, particularly for freight and diesel.
The Chatham Islands are New Zealand’s most remotely populated area, sitting about 862km east from Christchurch and 772km from Napier.
The island group includes many small islands, but only the two main ones are inhabited: Chatham Island, also called Re¯kohu or Wharekauri, and Pitt Island, also known as Rangihaute or Rangia¯uria.
Nga¯ti Mutunga o Wharekauri Iwi Trust CEO Gail Amaru said they were keen to work with the Government to build more than 100 public homes.
She also referenced the rising costs of fuel and the pollution associated, and the need for renewable energy including hydropower.
Lead negotiator for the iwi Tom McClurg said they were hoping their Treaty settlement, set to be finalised next year, and stronger relationship with the Government would address those issues.