Ngāi Tahu Election Update September 2010

Congratulations to Mark for being selected as the Te Runanga o Ngāi Tahu representative for Kaikōura.

Only Awarua to go now.

Confirmed Reps

Waihao - Gerald Te Kapa Coates
Tūāhuriri - Tutehounuku Korako
Arowhenua - Quentin Hix
Ōraka-Aparima - Stewart Bull
Koukourārata- Elizabeth Cunningham
Makaawhio - Tim Rochford
Ōtākou - Tahu Potiki
Taumutu - Sandy Lockhart
Rāpaki - Wally Stone
Waewae - Lisa Tumahai
Puketeraki - Matapura Ellison
Wairewa - James Daniels
Hokonui - Terry Nicholas
Moeraki - Gail Tipa
Waihōpai - Michael Skerrett
Ōnuku - Ngaire Tainui-Wybrow
Kaikōura - Mark Solomon

Ngāi Tahu election update July 2010

Congratulations to Michael and Ngaire for being elected as Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu representatives for Waihōpai and Ōnuku respectfully.

Confirmed representatives to date are


Waihao - Gerald Te Kapa Coates
Tūāhuriri - Tutehounuku Korako
Arowhenua - Quentin Hix
Ōraka-Aparima - Stewart Bull
Koukourārata- Elizabeth Cunningham
Makaawhio - Tim Rochford
Ōtākou - Tahu Potiki
Taumutu - Sandy Lockhart
Rāpaki - Wally Stone
Waewae - Lisa Tumahai
Puketeraki - Matapura Ellison
Wairewa - James Daniels
Hokonui - Terry Nicholas
Moeraki - Gail Tipa
Waihōpai - Michael Skerrett
Ōnuku - Ngaire Tainui-Wybrow

Just Awarua and Kaikōura to go
 

 
The quality of the alternates is important and we have some very fine people who have put themselves forward to help their iwi. A strong rep and a strong alternate means strong representation at the table and that can only be good for all of us.

Ngāi Tahu Election Update

Congratulations Gail - the Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu representative recently confirmed for Moeraki

Confirmed representatives to date are

Waihao - Gerald Te Kapa Coates
Tūāhuriri - Tutehounuku Korako
Arowhenua - Quentin Hix
Ōraka-Aparima - Stewart Bull
Koukourārata- Elizabeth Cunningham
Makaawhio - Tim Rochford
Ōtākou - Tahu Potiki
Taumutu - Sandy Lockhart
Rāpaki - Wally Stone
Waewae - Lisa Tumahai
Puketeraki - Matapura Ellison
Wairewa - James Daniels
Hokonui - Terry Nicholas
Moeraki - Gail Tipa

4 to go

Ngāi Tahu election update

Congratulations to James and Terry the two Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu representatives recently confirmed.

Confirmed representatives to date are

Waihao - Gerald Te Kapa Coates
Tūāhuriri - Tutehounuku Korako
Arowhenua - Quentin Hix
Ōraka-Aparima - Stewart Bull
Koukourārata- Elizabeth Cunningham
Makaawhio - Tim Rochford
Ōtākou - Tahu Potiki
Taumutu - Sandy Lockhart
Rāpaki - Wally Stone
Waewae - Lisa Tumahai
Puketeraki - Matapura Ellison
Wairewa - James Daniels
Hokonui - Terry Nicholas

5 to go

Ngāi Tahu election update

Ngāi Tahu election update.

Mid march

nothing to report.

kaiwhakahaere - the role

The role of kaiwhakahaere has been debated at the table. The subject has also been discussed here with some very interesting comments.

I'd like to talk about the role without getting into personalities.

The role originally was some sort of chairperson but the reality is that the role is a lot more than that. For instance the kaiwhakahaere is the public face of the iwi – they front the media, the hui, the issues, on behalf of the iwi. The role is an iwi role and that is why I think we should consider electing a non-TRONT representative to the role.

The role of the TRONT rep is to represent their runaka at the table and also to collectivelly govern the protect the wider iwi interests. The role of the kaiwhakahaere is to represent the iwi. Currently the 18 Papatipu Runaka Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu representatives elect the kaiwhakahaere from amoungst their number. I am not sure, but i would imagine, that fufilling the role of runaka rep and kaiwhakahaere at the same time, may be too much for one person.

I don't think we would create some type of 'super-leader' who is above the iwi and does what they want – there are too many checks and balances and too many eyes watching for that to happen. What we would create is the description of a role and the personal qualities needed and then we would select the best candidate for that role. And by we I mean all the iwi. If the role is considered an iwi role then the iwi should determine who the successful candidate is. Imagine the candidates, or their proposers, putting forward their case. We would get some fantastic korero and discussion of issues – there would be no secrets or hidden agendas – because the words would be known.

Yes there would be issues – costs for instance, campaigns, lobbying, moneyed influencers, communication and so on but the role was developed to fit a pakeha paradigm and it is only just over 10 years old. It is time to have a good look at it, a least to investigate options.

The role is arguably the most important in the iwi. We have to have the very best person from our iwi to be in that role and i think we need to look wider than our reps.

Comments – I have a problem when others (who are not position holders) are named, especially family members. The only other issue for me is if I think the comment is or could potenially be legally dodgy.

Ngai Tahu Elections - Arowhenua Update

Arowhenua update from this original post
From Stuff

"Arowhenua upoko Joe Waaka has been voted off as the Arowhenua Te Runanga O Ngai Tahu (Tront) representative after a special general meeting on Sunday.

Up to 60 people attended the meeting at the Arowhenua Marae and voted against Mr Waaka 26-25, Te Runanga O Arowhenua registered member Pierre Manning-Waaka said.

Mr Waaka was replaced by Timaru barrister Quentin Hix. Mr Manning-Waaka said he hoped the new appointment would bring the people back to the marae, as hundreds had left since 1970. Of the 9000 members of Te Runanga O Arowhenua, only about 40 would turn up to monthly meetings, he said.

"We want a strong marae base. I'm calling for people to return to the marae and support the process and the runanga. The more people we have the better."

Yes, let's get people back to the marae and strengthen the ties that bind.

"The role of a runanga representative is to administer the assets and liabilities of Te Runanga as kaitiaki for Ngai Tahu Whanui and not discriminate against any particular Papatipu Runanga."

Is that the description of the rep role that you would use? Are some Papatipu Runaka being 'discriminated' against?

Ngai Tahu election update - special general meeting called in Arowhenua

The electoral process in Arowhenua under fire.

From Stuff

"Arowhenua upoko Joe Waaka has called for a special general meeting to look at the "flawed process" of appointing the Arowhenua Te Runanga O Ngai Tahu (Tront) representative – a position he holds.

The meeting, advertised in Saturday's Timaru Herald, will be held on January 17 at the Arowhenua Marae.

When contacted by The Herald yesterday, Mr Waaka declined to comment.

Te Runanga O Arowhenua Society Incorporated chairman John Henry said he would attend the meeting and that people would have to "wait and see what happens".

He wanted to make it clear it was Mr Waaka, not the runanga or the incorporated society, who had called the meeting and that Mr Waaka was entitled to do so.

According to the advertisement, the four items on the agenda include:

To invoke Te Runanga O Arowhenua Society Incorporated disputes clause 25 with regard to the flawed process of appointing the Arowhenua Tront representative.

To appoint a working group to review the appointment komiti rules or policy and recommend any changes or improvements in reporting back to the member and the Kati Huirapa Hapu.

To notify Tront that the Arowhenua appointments komiti notice to them is invalid and was not legally endorsed by the member at a properly constituted general meeting.

To appoint a disputes komiti as per clause 25 of Te Runanga O Arowhenua Society Incorporated.

Hmmmm wish i was going.

From TRONT Website - Quentin Hix was elected Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu Representative for Arowhenua.

Ngāi Tahu Election Update

Congratulations to Nuk and Quentin the two new Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu representatives recently confirmed.

Footnote - Congratulations also to Gerald elected as representative for Waihao

Confirmed representatives to date are

Waihao - Gerald Te Kapa Coates

Tūāhuriri - Tutehounuku Korako

Arowhenua - Quentin Hix
Ōraka-Aparima - Stewart Bull
Koukourārata- Elizabeth Cunningham
Makaawhio - Tim Rochford
Ōtākou - Tahu Potiki
Taumutu - Sandy Lockhart
Rāpaki - Wally Stone
Waewae - Lisa Tumahai
Puketeraki - Matapura Ellison

Progress report from the TRONT website

Ngai Tahu Election update

Not many changes

BB is still keeping quiet for 2 weeks until Hui a Tau

Richard has posted some strong information on his blog

Looks like we will get to a 9/9 split on the board - unless we get a vote of no-confidence from the floor at Hui a Tau, of course.

Any thoughts from you?

cup of tea time for BB

Good post over at Roarprawn. i'm pleased that BB has decided to stop the personal attacks. They have been serving no-one. Lets stop all of the personal attack bullshit from everyone.

"So until the Hui A Tau which is being held at Oraka Aparima Colac Bay Riverton, on the weekend of the 20-22nd of November is over, we wont mock, prod, slap, dig, cajole, criticise or praise anything or anyone in relation to the elections."

And yes Hui a Tau is very important so that kanohi ki te kanohi can occur. We are one tribe with 43,000 registered members and as i have said many times our kin connections are more important than our differences.

Ngai Tahu Election delay causes fury

Kaikoura

I noted in my Ngai Tahu Election update that Kaikoura and Awarua Papatipu Runaka seemed to be dragging their heels when it came to getting their elections sorted. Now this

"Ngai Tahu leader Mark Solomon's Kaikoura runanga remains one of only two South Island runanga not preparing for elections to the iwi board.

Mana Solomon, a 31-year-old nephew to the tribal leader, said while 16 other runanga had either run or were planning elections, Kaikoura had done little to inform whanau about candidates."

"He was angry that the tribe's website says only that the runanga is "still discussing process". Watch out - you might get a taina email :) (This is supposed to be funny thus the smiley face)

"I don't know what that means. What's happening now is disgraceful. It's a basic democratic right to vote and yet we've got no idea."

I hear you e hoa. We want our rights and we want them now!

"Tront chief executive Anake Goodall said Ngai Tahu legislation was vague about how it could elect members. But it wasn't good enough that the tribe had taken so long to sort out the electoral process. Mr Goodall said Kaikoura would likely miss the deadline for elections, but he hoped they would complete the process by the end of March."

End of march!


Not good enough by a long shot.

Come on - how about this - if you haven't completed elections then you can't elect a kaiwhakahaere can you?

Footnote - An interesting piece about Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu from Te Karere focusing on Wally, Mark and new boss (thanks anon) Chief Executive of NT Holdings Greg Campbell



Greg - good luck and nothing personal, but I wish we had Ngai Tahu whanui member's as our directors.

Ngai Tahu Election update

Ngai Tahu elections are heating up. 8 Papatipu Runaka have completed their process. 10 to go, with Kaikoura and Awarua looking a bit behind compared to everyone else. Chart from Henrietta here

We may end up with a 50/50 split between the two camps. That will make the election of the Kaiwhakahaere interesting. Maybe Ngai Tahu whanui should elect our Kaiwhakahaere rather than the other reps.

If your eyes are a bit less than perfect like mine

Oraka Aparima - Stewart Bull

Koukourarata - Elizabeth Cunningham

Makaawhio - Tim Rochford

Otakou - Tahu Potiki

Taumutu - Sandy Lockhart

Rapaki - Wally Stone

Waewae - Lisa Tumahai

Puketeraki - Matapura Ellison

Ngai Tahu Election results

Ngai Tahu Final Papatipu Runaka Election results for these 3 runaka

Te Runanga o Otākou TRONT Representative - Tahu Potiki

Te Taumutu Runanga TRONT Representative - Sandy Lockhart

Te Runanga o Koukourārata TRONT Representative - Elizabeth Cunningham

BB and Richard have good comment on these (Mainly about Tahu) appointments. And there has been comment here on mars2earth.

What do you think?

Do we need the UN to send a verification team in to check the ballot boxes... oh, that's right we don't have ballot boxes do we...

Ngai Tahu Elections update

A couple of good threads talking about the same issue - Ngai Tahu Elections

This one has 10 comments and this one has 3 comments - what do you think? Do we need to check out our candidates or let the Papatipu Runaka sort it out. Have you voted for anyone? Are you going to vote for anyone? Are we just going through the motions - paying lip service to the notions of fairness and equality and an ability to have an influence over those that have been given the task of governing us and our assets?

Ngai Tahu elections

Thank you anon for the challenge in the comments

Anonymous said...


"I have been disappointed that there has been very little information from yourself or Richard on what is happening re elections. While folks on BB criticise Makaawhio, which held a direct vote, no examination has been carried out on the other Runanga who are engaged in the process.


For some Runanga, like Oraka Aparima, there was simply no contest. Other Runanga there is clearly shenagins going on. Waewae held the postal vote months ago using a mailout list which excluded almost all the Tuahiwi members.


Taumutu held no postal ballot and were not even going to hold interviews before re-appointing their Rep. Talk about pre-determination...


Otakou takes the prize so far. They had enough numbers to hold a postal ballot but the names were not quite right. So the Chair re-opened nominations and guess what the father in law of the Chair and a couple of others put their names forward. And then they held a ballot run from the runanga database and low and behold enough of the "right kind of people" are now on the apppointment committee.


And now, it seems that the Chair of the Runanga wants to be the Rep and the other applicants have been told they are wasting their time in going through the process.


And who is the Chair and the Rep in waiting, let me think ... ex CEO Tahu Potiki. Until he clears up the question of the alleged double payout when he was CEO he has a damn cheek.


I am surprised that Edward would allow himself to be involved in such shenanigans - to participate on an appointment committee when your son-in-law is a candidate is pretty damn dodgy.


It is clear that BBs mates are trying to arrange a change at the table to bring in the same trouble makers who were making headlines earlier this year.


There motives are definately suspect and the modus operandi of how they intend to get into power speaks for itself."



October 19, 2009 11:31 AM

Marty Mars said...

"It is hard to know where to begin.


On one hand i think the elections are just a load of rubbish. The same people doing the same thing for the same reasons. No democracy, no fairness.


Two have finalised their election and 16 have yet to. There are 11 weeks until 2010 - the maths doesn't add up.


i have heard of kaumatua not being included, taken off, changed and adjusted. All without proper process.


When we register as Ngai Tahu our whakapapa is recorded. Most runaka have asked for members who think they whakapapa to them, to get in touch with them - this is just a joke. We have already registered and it is the runaka's responsibility to write and contact us to vote - not the other way round. My runaka haven't contacted me and the only one that has - had a kaumatua that we weren't descended from as one of our tupuna.


Who owns this? The runaka asked that TRONT leave it up to them. TRONT's duty is to it's members who are the members on the roll at TRONT.


I have reread the comments from all of the hui regarding this election process.


My thoughts at this stage are -


1. It is not a fair or democratic process.


2. The responsibility for enrollment and ability to cast a vote should be the runakas but they have abdicated their responsibility and now no-one looks after members.


3. The electrol college approach is flawed and part of the reason for the low interest.


4. Each runaka has set up their own criteria and process - they are not all equal or equivilant.


5. The process whereby if a runaka has the same nominations as places and therefore it just puts people in, without election or debate, is not democracy or giving people choice.


Trying to get information is difficult. No ones wants to put their head up because the whole thing is so bogus that that they will be tarred with the brush.


I am not giving up but i think what will be will be and the results from this flawed process will become very evident quickly - and then we can fix it. Maybe at hui a tau someone will raise the questions.


Our mana has not been enhanced by this."


What do you think?

Do you care?

Footnote - Go here to read Richard Parata's latest insight to the Ngai Tahu Elections

Taster..."The following is a submission to a Runanga I where I have voting rights. It is a formal dispute - allowed under the Runanga constitution- about their electoral process. So far I have not had a reply. The points I raise are applicable to other Runanga elections. It is my view that any Runanga who do not run a democratic process have no right to sit at the Tront table."

Ngai Tahu elections

Further to the Ngai Tahu GNA issue.

Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka have completed their selection of the appointment committee and have elected their TRoNT Representative. Congratulations to Stewart Bull and Ann Wakefield.

I note that there are approximately 1500 Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka members who are non-contactable or GNA.

Ngai Tahu members 'Gone No Address'

We have a problem within Ngai Tahu with gone no addresses (GNA's). It's alarming to know that somewhere between 25 and 30% (and whatever the figure is the argument is the same) of registered Iwi members have not kept the Office up to date with their details. They are considered GNA and they don't receive any communication from the iwi. Why aren't these registered Iwi members letting the Office know when they move? The short answer is that they feel minimal connection and that is why they don't make the effort. I don't blame anyone for this. My point is, what do we do about it?

It doesn't seem possible and certainly not desirable to have only half the waka paddleing. All of the GNA's are Iwi members with something to offer. How can important events such as elections be fair if a sizeable number of people are not contactable. Finding these GNA's must become a higher priority. And once they are found, we have to work out how to keep them engaged, how to keep them conncected. And I am not saying that efforts, in all these areas, aren't being made, they are, and that is great. But we need to do more, much more.

For instance we could do this: we know that all Ngai Tahu are related, so someone must know where the GNA's are. Let's pay our people to update the datebase. Yes pay them! We pay plenty of non-Ngai Tahu for all sorts of things, and probably will to find the GNA's, it's a waste of money. Let's pay ourselves. let's pay our people – for doing a job that we need done anyway. There are many ways of calculating the value of finding a GNA and that can be assessed against the cost of finding them. But just for the sake of argument lets say that we have 10,000 GNA's and we pay people $50 for every GNA that gets updated into the database. That would cost $500,000. Someone would have to run it and so on so add on another $300,000. Hell, lets make it $500,000 to bring it up to a nice round million. Divide a million by 10,000 and you get $100 per person. That's $100 to find a GNA.

I think that is worth it, especially when most of the money goes back to whanau members. i think it is worth spending $100 to reconnect with an Iwi member. A member who has something to contribute, something to learn.

So once we have found them, how do we keep them. We have to get them involved and interacting with the Iwi. But first we have to get to know them and break down the barriers. Once those barriers have been breached we can then show all of the benefits of being connected via the Office.

And how do we get to know all of these GNA's? Why not go and visit them. Why not! Let's employ someone or some people to visit each and every Iwi member and find out how they are going and show them some of the areas of Ngai Tahutanga that they could be involved with. Ask them about what they want from their Iwi. I know we do surveys but I'm talking about doing things the old way, kanohi ki te kanohi – face to face.

We need our GNA'as much as they need us. And they do need their connection to their Iwi, even if they don't think they do, today. As more and more become disillusioned by the unsatisfying and exploitive consumerist society that we live in, they will look for the things that are real. And nothing is more real than Ngai Tahu. They are part of the indigenous culture that was here long before the europeans arrived and they belong, they have a place to stand. The economic tsumani will also cause distress and drive people back to the basics and the most basic is kin. We are seeing a resurgence of Ngai Tahu mana and maori mana. Our people will come back and we have to be ready for them.

There is a lot to do and we need everyone lending their back to the cause. The best part of the whole thing is that everyone wins. The individuals that are no-longer GNA get connected and they get the magazines and the letters. The Iwi reestablishing links to the Iwi member. Further connection can be facilitated to marae and runanga level.

This problem of GNA's is common, but not many organisations have the solution under their fingertips... the people, the people, the people.

Ngai Tahu elections

The Ngai Tahu elections are a worry. Here is Richard Parata's analysis - and note this is from 2006 but is still relevant today. In fact my question is, "What has changed?"

"Iwi pleads for more openness"; "Ngai Tahu beneficiaries are calling for greater transparency in the way their assets are managed" (The Press, September 22). I could not agree more. The time has come for all Ngai Tahu to be informed and involved, through democratically elected representatives."

The process by which the 18 representatives are appointed to Tront is not democratic. Few of the 37,000 eligible beneficiaries have the opportunity to vote directly for a person to represent them.

A major problem is that voting is marae-based and through an electoral college. Only some marae allow fully democratic postal voting. All beneficiaries can trace their whakapapa to more than one marae and by right can vote on multiple marae, and therefore the system allows multiple votes. But implementing a full multiple-vote system would produce more problems than it would solve.

It does not help in seeking the participation of beneficiaries that 55 per cent live outside the tribal area, in the North Island and overseas. Lack of democracy means that Tront is not truly accountable to the people. Unbridled power has taken precedence over the democratic needs of the beneficiaries, with serious consequences for the tribe's financial future."

It is important that all Ngai Tahu get engaged with this election. Go to Richards blog and read up about the historical situation that has got us here. Ask your runanga or your rep about what is happening. Find out if you are enrolled. Find out if your Tiipuna is included within the roll for your marae.

There are many challenges facing our Iwi and those challenges require a full paddling commitment from all members of the waka. And we can't get that unless we give Ngai Tahu whanui a way to ensure their voices are heard. Because it's their iwi too, its our iwi too...

Ngai Tahu Elections

Have you received much information on the Ngai Tahu elections? Me neither, and i am a bit worried about it. I did receive one communication regarding one Papatipu Runaka but after investigation it was found that a mistake had been made and we were connected to a tiipuna incorrectly. Thats okay, all fixed, but deadly silence from everyone else.

Which tiipuna offers you the chance to have a say in your Iwi? You may find that the list kept by the Runaka you thought you whakapapa'd to doesn't have you on the list. You may find the Tiipuna is not considered as whakapapa'ng to that Papatipu Runaka.

I hope we achieve fair and just representation. That means making sure that all eligible voters have the ability and knowledge to vote for the committee member that will represent their interests, when selecting the candidate for the runaka.

We need to divest some of the decision making to the people. That's going to be hard with over a quarter of registered Ngai Tahu Gone No Address. The big problem is connection and engagement. Why would someone tell you their new address? Because they are engaged and connected - this is where we need to get to.