Okahu Bay model favoured

By AUDREY YOUNG political editor


Ngati Whatua elder statesman Sir Hugh Kawharu yesterday held up the hapu ownership and co-management of Okahu Bay in Auckland as a possible model for others.

He also vowed there would be no compromise by Ngati Whatua on the arrangement.

Government minister John Tamihere said the arrangement was a model that could well be replicated within some of the 16 regional bodies to be established under the Government's foreshore and seabed proposals.

The suggestion also found cautious favour with outspoken Ngati Kahu leader Margaret Mutu, who said the Crown's foreshore proposals amounted to "cultural genocide".

She and Sir Hugh were giving evidence before an urgent Waitangi Tribunal hearing in Wellington to decide whether the Government's proposals breach the Treaty of Waitangi.

Evidence before the tribunal has so far been universally condemning, with witnesses expounding on an integral relationship between mana held by Maori and the foreshore, and a belief that the foreshore has always been theirs.

Sir Hugh is an emeritus professor of Maori studies at Auckland University and chairman of the Ngati Whatua o Orakei Maori Trust Board.

He also chairs a trust that co-manages the 60ha reserve at Bastion Point and Okahu Bay with the Auckland City Council.

"The arrangement has worked successfully and without untoward incident since its inception in 1992," he said.

"It is a benign and efficient regime and here at least the mana of Ngati Whatua stands tall, intact and protected.

"This is a model that the Crown might consider further in respect of foreshore and seabed policy."

Sir Hugh said he was not wedded to the detail of the model.

"However, what effectively should be required is that Maori must have effective say in respect of the ongoing control, administration and management of the area of land and should be the registered proprietor.

"The key is the retention of mana."

The Crown's proposals would result in the complete loss of mana, which could not be remedied by monetary compensation "or mere recognition-of-use rights".

"There is no compromise possible, at least for Ngati Whatua, in the sense that mana belongs to one party or the other. If it doesn't belong to Ngati Whatua then Ngati Whatua doesn't have it and Ngati Whatua will want to know why."

Mr Tamihere said the Orakei example had worked well and could be considered by some of the regional groups - representing local bodies, the Government and whanau, hapu and iwi. But he did not see it necessarily being replicated.

"In different areas you are looking at totally different formulas."

Mr Tamihere referred to the lakebed of Taupo being vested in Tuwharetoa, and the proposal to vest the lakes within Te Arawa in the tribe's ownership.

Margaret Mutu, professor of Maori studies at Auckland University, described the Government policy as cultural genocide and a declaration of war on Ngati Kahu because it sought "to stop us being what we are".

Sir Hugh was quizzed extensively by Maori Land Court Judge Carrie Wainwright on the exercise of mana.

The judge said it was "a scary prospect" that the tribunal might have to explain tikanga [custom] in its report to lawmakers.

She questioned Sir Hugh in detail because "there is tremendous potential for us to get it wrong".