Te Karaka iwi grateful for extra clean-up funding

Mud-soaked belongings from Te Karaka homes lined the streets of the township in the days following Cyclone Gabrielle. Picture by Renae Lolohea

Te Aitanga a Māhaki iwi say they are thankful for the latest announcement of extra support to help remove sediment and debris off whenua Māori, and that it will help keep the people and homes of Te Karaka safe.

This is the latest Government initiative to support communities to recover from Cyclone Gabrielle that hit the region in February.

A boost of $30 million in funding made available through grants to help owners of whenua Māori with costs related to the clean-up of sediment and debris.

“Te Aitanga a Māhaki and our threatened community of Te Karaka are thankful for this and the work that you, (Minister Peeni Henare), have led along with the support from Kiritapu Allan and Sir Brian Roche and team.  Me mihi ka tika,” said Te Aitanga a Māhaki chief executive and lead negotiator Willie Te Aho in response to the news.

“At the end of March 2023, at the National Māori Housing Conference,  Minister Jackson noted that ‘by Māori for Māori’ works.  This is something that Minister Henare said at Waihīrere in October 2021 when launching Whai Kāinga Whai Oranga.  Kei te tika rawa atu,” Mr Te Aho said.

Māori Development Minister Willie Jackson said, “Māori landowners who have completed or who continue their clean-up phase are eligible for funding, along with those seeking support to begin clean-up activities on whenua Māori.

“We recognise that months on, Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay communities are still dealing with the aftermath of the cyclone and we remain committed to supporting their post-cyclone recovery.

“This funding is the latest in our rolling maul of initiatives to support recovery and is in addition to the $172 million announced last month to help local authorities and commercial property owners manage sediment and debris.

“The Whenua Māori Service in Te Puni Kōkiri is working with whenua Māori owners to understand their needs and aspirations and will be providing support to make applications,” Mr Jackson said

Te Puni Kōkiri is also administering $2 million of the $10.15 million woody debris fund announced as part of Budget 2023. This $2 million fund has been allocated specifically to manage woody debris in catchments on whenua Māori.

“The community has made clear the need for immediate action on removing woody debris. We recognise it will take a multi-faceted approach, and this goes someway in supporting action,” Minister Peeni Henare said

“With more rain in these regions there is a clear need to remove woody debris as soon as possible to avoid it causing any further damage,” Peeni Henare said.

Mr Te Aho says the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) will contract through Toitū Tairāwhiti Housing Limited to distribute funding to the main four iwi for their recovery structures.

“This contract has been signed off by the Managing Director for Toitū Tairāwhiti Housing Limited after having been approved by Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tāmanuhiri and Te Aitanga a Mahaki last Wednesday,” he said.

“This approach by DPMC complements the already visionary approach of Te Puni Kōkiri in moving resourcing for the removal of silt under houses and repairs for houses damaged by cyclones this year through Toitū Tairāwhiti Housing Limited for the area from Pōtaka to Mōhaka, which complements the other significant investment in Whare Manaaki (Temporary Housing) from our other partner, Housing & Urban Development.

“Keeping our people safe and well is the overall focus of this kawenata (contract, agreement) and partnership between the Iwi of Tairāwhiti and the Crown through your government.

“With the support of whānau, hapū, Iwi and all but two landowners (at this point) we will be championing our $5.8m business case — that you received on  May 12  with Te Puni Kōkiri to be funded through Toitū Tairāwhiti Housing Limited.

“With our kawenata signed by Peeni Henare and Minister Jackson last May 2022; our Programme Delivery Partnership Agreement and proven track record, this will be the quickest avenue for securing funding from Te Puni Kōkiri.  The removal of this slash/woody debris will keep our people of Te Karaka safe and well in their houses in Te Karaka,” Mr Te Aho said.

■ Whenua Māori owners within Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay should contact the Whenua Māori Service team at their nearest Te Puni Kōkiri regional office or email SedimentandDebrisWhenua@tpk.govt.nz for more information about how to apply.