Trust the vital ingredient in co-governance models

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

It is interesting comparing an opinion piece from columnist Sarah Sparks writing on the “Stuff” website recently — on the decline in trust in government institutions in many parts of the world — with some wise comments attributable to one of our late great Ngati Porou leaders, Dr Apirana Mahuika.

During a speech some years ago, Uncle Api was responding to questions related to his dislike of “partnerships” as a vehicle for establishing a basis for political cooperation that would satisfy the needs of minority groups struggling in a modern society.

He preferred the process of “whakawhanaungatanga” that involved the establishment of working “relationships” that allowed those who had historical and moral rights under the Treaty of Waitangi to achieve self-determination based on TRUST of a governance system that acknowledged the tangata whenua position as an equal partner.

Dr Mahuika’s intellectual overview was the result of years studying what worked and what didn’t.

He said that “partnerships” based on political strength were always going to deliver unequal outcomes for minority groups and it was a waste of time suggesting ways of peaceful coexistence when those who had the numbers would always demand and achieve control.

So he appealed to those who were in positions of power to establish “co-governance relationships” where minorities where not seen as threats by the establishment.

He recognised “co-governance”, ensuring equal opportunity for all, would only become reality if all participants in these top-level agreements focused on trust as the one factor that could make it happen.

And, ironically, there are a number of “co-governance” models that have already demonstrated this vital ingredient is able to deliver results that have previously defied attempts to gerrymander an outcome that was clearly seen as democratically unfair.

The return of National Parks to local iwi are significant steps that will allow them to build asset-based economies that are capable of showing the Treaty settlement as something that can deliver acceptable outcomes.

Uncle Api was a visionary. It is a pity that many of his successors appear unable or unwilling to recognise the foresight he encouraged.

Our shared future depends on them following his lead.

Clive Bibby