Settlement takes seabed stand

By AINSLEY THOMSON

Two months ago, Jason Koia visited the East Cape settlement of Potaka with a vision that he said would make the predominantly Maori community entirely self-sufficient within 10 years.

He proposed that the isolated community - in rugged hill country three hours north of Gisborne and two hours south of Opotiki - take responsibility over the foreshore and seabed by building an aquaculture centre at Potaka marae.

Becoming self-sufficient was an enticing idea for the economically struggling community that consists of 12 families, a marae and a primary school under risk of closure.

Kerry Kururangi, treasurer of the Potaka marae committee, said when Mr Koia first outlined his plans she was apprehensive.

"But the vision was too awesome not to go with. I will have mokopuna [grandchildren] and I don't want them to turn around to me and say, 'Why didn't you fight for the foreshore and seabed?' This is our pou in the whenua - the stick in the ground."

Mr Koia said the Potaka kaumatua and community took a admirable risk in undertaking the challenge to become self-sufficient.

The 34-year-old, who is studying for a Bachelor of Arts in Maori, said the idea of the aquaculture centre came to him while he was researching a foreshore and seabed hui.

"At three in the morning I realised that as long as we are under Government rules or jurisdiction we are wasting our time. Our rights are slowly going to be amended away. The decision was to get out there and do it ourselves. To exercise our tino rangatiratanga, our customary right. So we made the decision to make our stand."

Mrs Kururangi describes Mr Koia as a visionary dedicated and passionate about trying to fix injustices.

The next step after the aquaculture centre is established will be research into Potaka's ocean resources, then planning and development. Ultimately, Mrs Kururangi said, facilities at the beach would include a nursery, a commercial area, a customary rights area and an area open to the public to take seafood.

The long road to self-sufficiency would create a community that did not need health or education funding.

"We won't have to rely on the Government any longer. We don't want handouts."