How sad to think that we only get dressed up to go to court. Almost as sad as being asked whose land did I sell to be able to drive the flash as Santa Fe wagon donated kindly to our trust by Farmers Auto Village.
Off I go, pen in pocket, to listen and learn from our leaders and I must say besides the black coffee and the beautiful pink salmon she was a pretty pale hui, and my comment about being the elephant in the room at question time had nothing to do with the size of my puku.
But the korero and the kai were rich in many ways and I only wish more of our Maori leaders were sitting at the table. Innovative collaboration is a subject we need to understand and address if we are to harness the opportunities of post-treaty settlement, as other iwi such as Ngai Tahu, Tainui and Ngati Whatua have managed to do.
When I heard the questions and their solutions put up by Paul Adams the moemoea (dreamer) in me asked the same for iwi.
I have added the word iwi alongside council in his speech.
"As with all monopolies there is a lack of innovation by council [iwi] here in Tauranga.
"Why has the city [iwi] not investigated and entered into more private/public partnerships, to help fund infrastructure and projects?
"Council [iwi] just put up the land, and had full security until the land value was repaid from cash flow, and then profits were shared equally.
"It's the best outcome for ratepayers [iwi beneficiaries] without risk."
Could it be that simple? The sceptics and the gate keepers within council and iwi will immediately say no.
Why? Possibly because their perceived position of power could be compromised or the '$10 Tauranga' tag has become a brand to believe in just as pohara has for Maori. Surely we have more shine than decline to celebrate here?
'Profit and success' are not words to be feared but embraced, if we are to have our own homes and build a better future for our tamariki.
I went to the luncheon looking for answers to the currency we measure success with and I got one from Mayor Stuart Crosby when he spoke about coming to speak at this annual Chamber of Commerce function.
While one leader spoke about dreading it because of the high level of heavy hitters being in the audience, Mayor Crosby loved the luncheon and its kaupapa (well, he didn't use the word kaupapa, that was me. Maori didn't get much of a mention in their korero) - and felt much more intimidated when addressing the Arataki Brownies recently.
Ironically Arataki would be a word that I would use to describe innovation to pave a new pathway forward. The challenge is to learn to collaborate innovatively for mutual benefits.
I guess it all comes back to the currency we measure success by and for the Arataki Brownies it may just be a happy home and a happy life - as it is for many of us.
broblack@xtra.co.nz
