our feet are bound

I'm not really interested in smashing Ngai Tahu Property - I think they have a role to play in the success of the iwi but sometimes I do wonder. The 1348 hectare Rakanui station, 10 kilometres south of Kaikoura has just been sold by NT Property to a Californian couple who plan to 'keep Rakanui private for the family'. NT property have taken a half million loss to flick the property on, their plans for a 'residential farm park containing 64 sections of 0.5ha each' was approved but Tony Sewell says they are moving out of 'large scale lifestyle developments'.

From The Malborough Express- Stuff

A sales history of the property shows the then 1348 hectare Rakanui station, 10 kilometres south of Kaikoura, was sold in 2005 for a gross price of $8 million. Last year, the reported 1345 hectares was sold to the American couple for $7.5 million by Ngai Tahu Property Ltd. The property had changed hands in 2004 for $2.3 million, and in 1983 for just $117,500.

So we have sold 1348 hectares of our land and we did it because it was considered another transactional item in the market place. The justifications are/will be many and varied but the facts remain.

There is something wrong with the model if that can happen - there is something in the tension between maintaining the putea and our kaitiakitanga role that needs to be really looked at and considered IMO. This is precious life giving land and i mean life giving in the spiritual as well as the practical sense. If this sale is okay - what next?

Perhaps mana whenua approved this sale, maybe they consider it a good thing - I hope not.

the policy made me do it

To me Ngāi Tahu Property selling 18,250 hectares of rural land leased to forestry companies located in the lowland Canterbury foothills is just wrong. The diversification argument is disingenous because this is LAND and this land is generating over 1M in rental income - that is low risk. Press Release

"NTP Chief Executive Tony Sewell says the Ngāi Tahu’s rural investment portfolio currently represents 1/6 of the Tribes commercial asset base. "Quite simply we are looking to diversify the overall portfolio in line with the Tribes investment policy.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Kaiwhakahaere Mark Solomon says the iwi has a number of policies in place that guide the decision making of those that lead its commercial entities, including the Group Investment Policy Framework, finalised this year, which encourages Ngāi Tahu Holdings Corporation and the subsidiaries to diversify the investment portfolio. "All our subsidiaries will, at times, have to make decisions to sell assets in order to reinvest in a manner that is consistent with our Investment Policy. We see diversification as being essential to secure the tribe’s future financial success."

I think we make a mistake when we just consider land as a commodity that generates profit. I am not happy with the blame being placed on the policy - who signed off the policy? The iwi decides the policy, in line with the values of the members of the iwi. I am not sure where the value of 'selling land' sits but it'll be well down the list i'd guess.

I have checked out the annual report and it says that the Group Investment Policy Framework is designed to get higher returns and provide liquidity and they will achieve that by "moving unproductive assets". The goal is to build net assets from 500M to 1B by 2015 - that's about 48 months away.

Ngai Tahu choose the river over money - thanks - that is mana!

Massive!

"Ngai Tahu has quit a North Canterbury irrigation scheme.



The tribe's property company has resigned from the Hurunui Water Project's (HWP) board and put its shares, held by wholly-owned subsidiary Ngai Tahu Forest Estates Ltd, into a trust.


Ngai Tahu's move follows news that the project's resource consent applications with Environment Canterbury have been suspended while its backers try to avoid a court battle with opponents.


Ngai Tahu Property chief executive Tony Sewell said in a statement that the company would like to boost productivity of its Balmoral land holdings, but not at the expense of sustainable use of land and water resources."

That is wonderful news Thank you so much NT Property. You have made the best decision.

"The Ngai Tahu runanga's submission to the HWP asked for the applications to be put on hold, despite the property company's shareholding. Consents affected an area of "immense cultural significance", the submission said, and information provided in the application was "entirely inadequate".



Ngai Tahu hapu Ngai Tuahuriri and Ngati Kuri supported a water conservation order for the Hurunui River."

"Ngai Tahu wanted to take time to decide its freshwater strategy, she said.



"They've had a lot of internal conflict because the property division has been supporting the project," she said. "In my understanding, it's just for the relatively short term while we try to establish something through the Canterbury Water Management Strategy.""

This is mana and just a massive win for our iwi for our rivers for our children. Karawhiua Kai Tahu!!!

Save the Hurunui River

Hurunui River

Save the Hurunui River

Why?

"The Hurunui provides outstanding habitat for native fish and birds, especially nationally endangered black-fronted tern and black-billed gull and the dotterel (in decline). It is one of the most popular rivers in New Zealand for fishing, white-water rafting and kayaking.
The Hurunui is Canterbury’s sixth largest river by volume. Lake Sumner and seven smaller lakes formed by retreating glaciers are considered icons of the South Island high country.

As well as being one of Canterbury’s most loved rivers, it is also home to some of our most endangered species.

It is an example of one of the most diverse river catchments in Canterbury, ranging from bush-fringed lakes, steep, rocky headwaters and gorges to braided shingle riverbeds, and supports an equally diverse range of habitats and native biodiversity.

Fifty-eight bird species have been identified in the catchment, including 17 threatened species. Significant river birds include three nationally endangered species: the black-fronted tern (between 5-12% of the entire population), black-billed gull (in serious decline) and banded dotterel (in gradual decline). The catchment is also home to birds uncommon in most of Canterbury, especially grey teal and NZ shoveler.

Twenty-five native fish species have been identified in the catchment, including six threatened fish species. It is also an important recreational fishery for brown trout and salmon, with an estimated 20,000 angler days per season.

The surrounding beech forest supports a healthy population of endangered mohua (yellowhead) and critically endangered orange-fronted parakeet (kakariki). "

So Ngai Tahu what are we going to do? We have NT Property trying to dam and destroy the river. No doubt local kaumatua and Papatipu Runaka will be trying to save the river and it's mauri.

This is what the damn dammers say

"Who is behind the Hurunui Water Project?

The Board of HWP

The Board of the Hurunui Water Project is small but diverse. Our common ingredient is an interest in the future well-being of the Hurunui District. We include representatives from the Hurunui Irrigation and Power Trust (HIPT), Ngai Tahu Property, Mainpower and Eskhead Station.

• HIPT represents the interests of more than 200 Hurunui farmers who formed a trust in 2002 to look at the opportunities for using water in the district.

• Ngai Tahu Property has interests in the sustainable management of the soil and water resources of the Hurunui District together with satisfying the wider interests of Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu, Ngai Tuahuriri and Kaikoura runanga. "

What is the TRONT position? Who speaks for Ngai Tahu? Are NT Property considering the wider interests with this project?

And if Ngai Tahu are too concerned about the profit and money they will make via NT Property - then what does that say about us, about our kaitiakitanga role and if we won't save this river - who the hell will!

Marshland development rejected, NT Property likely to appeal

This line of this story caught my eye;

"The appeal would probably cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and would decide the future expansion of Christchurch."

which came after this,

"I think we are bound to appeal. We do not agree with the decision, so there is an opportunity to appeal and we will take it," That is Ngai Tahu Property general manager Tony Sewell talking about this;

"A suburb of 6000 people proposed for Marshland has been rejected by the Christchurch City Council, and the developers plan to appeal in an Environment Court test case."

"The scheme is a joint venture between Ngai Tahu Holdings, supermarket giant Foodstuffs and developer CDL Land New Zealand."

Why was it rejected?

"Council planning general manager Michael Theelen said the scheme was outside areas identified by the council for housing development in the southwest and the Belfast corridor to the north.

"It is going in a very different direction to how development is outlined in the city plan," he said."

So the reason that that line caught my eye is that NT Property are probably going to be involved in an appeal which could have major ramifications for the future development and expansion of Christchurch, are they only working for the commercial interests or are they representing their owners views.

Big opportunity for Ngai Tahu

Pretty sure we will see more and more of this.

"Queenstown Lodge is on the the market for sale through a private treaty, nearly six months after it was placed in receivership."

"The property has 130 beds in 56 rooms, together with four self-contained apartments, licensed restaurant and bar, lounge-games room, spa and sauna complex, and reception area."

Perhaps Ngai Tahu should be keeping their eyes and checkbook open. We could pick up a bargin and maybe turn it into a training centre for rangatahi. Or run the place as an eco-cultural lodge, based around our stories, our way of welcoming people and looking after them.