Dialogue: Bold move to reconnect Ngapuhi with heritage

SONNY TAU says the renaissance of the Ngapuhi nation is the ambitious aim of a consultation process begun by the Northland iwi.

Ngapuhi, New Zealand's biggest iwi, has a long and rich tradition of uniting and joining forces in times of great challenge. This is one of those times.

Last week, Te Runanga A Iwi O Ngapuhi, the Kaikohe-based iwi authority which represents the Ngapuhi nation, set off on a bold and ambitious initiative.

We began a two-month nationwide consultation process in which we are going out to all Ngapuhi - young, old, rural and urban - in effect to mobilise the renaissance of the Ngapuhi nation.

For too long Ngapuhi have sat back and allowed their Maori heritage to expire. Many have increasingly felt a sense of powerlessness when it came to issues affecting their lives.

Today, the social indicators for the tribe are not good, as is the case for Maori in general. There are a multitude of social problems - health, housing and education are the big ones. Also, we are over-represented in unemployment and prison statistics.

There have been many calls over the years for the Ngapuhi people to review the structure, values and direction of their iwi authority.

Added to this is the need to address the compliance and allocation issues required by Te Ohu Kai Moana (the Waitangi Fisheries Commission), as well as how we approach matters such as tax and charitable trust status.

So it is time for bold action, and this constitutional review of our iwi authority, which really means a review of our rules book, will provide a platform for the economic and social advancement of our people everywhere.

We are under no illusions about the challenge we face.

Ngapuhi, while being New Zealand's biggest iwi - the next two in size (Ngati Porou and Ngati Kahungunu) still do not equal our numbers - is widely scattered.

Our traditional boundaries are in the north and include the Bay of Islands, Hokianga and Whangarei. But three-quarters of Ngapuhi live outside our tribal rohe (district), most of these in South or West Auckland. And we are a young nation - 40 per cent of the iwi population is under 15.

Our greatest challenge will be to reach and inspire young Ngapuhi who were born and live in Massey, Otahuhu, and Manurewa.

We want them to become involved in the life of their iwi and reconnect with their proud heritage.

These rangatahi (young people) are the future of New Zealand, and we have thought long and hard about how we make it worthwhile for them to make contact with their iwi and more, to become involved in its activities.

Role models, particularly leading sport and music personalities, influence all young people. And when it comes to these areas, Ngapuhi has some of the biggest names in New Zealand. A number of these will be publicly endorsing the Ngapuhi programme in the next month. The message will be: Proud to be Ngapuhi, get involved.

Apart from the Ngapuhi icons programme, we will be holding traditional consultations at hui through Northland and Auckland, and an open whare programme in the main centres.

We will be holding face-to-face consultation in Auckland shopping malls and providing a freephone number for those wishing to register their views.

What are the sorts of issues we will be discussing at our forums? We invite Ngapuhi to make contributions on any issue they like, but as a pointer to discussions we have listed four areas:

* Where are we headed as a people? This will include the expectations for the future of whanau, hapu and iwi.

* The role of our leaders and representatives. This will look at how Ngapuhi want their representatives elected, particularly representatives in urban areas and the role of the urban members in the runanga.

We also want to know what the role of Te Runanga A Iwi O Ngapuhi should be in managing commercial operations and resource issues.

* Accountability. There have been problems in this area, so this will be an important area to listen to the people on decision-making, transparency and reporting procedures.

* Treaty settlements and fisheries allocation. We want to know how Ngapuhi wish to manage the settlement assets. Another issue will be to explore whether Ngapuhi has its own act of Parliament, as was passed for Ngai Tahu and Tainui at the time of their settlements.

The constitutional review and consultation process will cost about $120,000, which is being funded by a number of agencies, including Te Puni Kokiri, the Crown Forestry Rental Trust, the Poutama Trust and Te Ohu Kai Moana.

That equates to just over $1 for each Ngapuhi member, which, given the intended benefits for our people, will be money well spent.

Our goal is to reach a democratic representation from our people, a set of values we can live by, a direction for the iwi, and an accountable and transparent structure.

Our history reminds us that too often we have bickered among ourselves, and that has surely been true of Ngapuhi in recent years.

But when faced with an enemy - and the enemy today is economic and social disadvantage - we have set aside our differences, our rangatira would gather, agree on a battle plan, and then fight as one.

Today, we must act in a similar manner. As down through the epic story of Ngapuhi, we must face the challenges that confront us together.

Ngapuhi seeking further information can call 0800 789-899 or write to Freepost Ngapuhi, PO Box 108 115, Symonds St, Auckland.

* Sonny Tau is the chairman of Te Runanga A Iwi O Ngapuhi.