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Scoop
4 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Taranaki Regional Councillors Urged To Quit Election Over Treaty Principles Fiasco
Councillors involved in quashing debate over the Treaty Principles Bill at the Taranaki Regional Council have received a dressing down at a fiery meeting in Stratford. Council was considering a report which found councillors colluded not to make a submission on the bill and halt debate. New Plymouth District Councillor Dinnie Moeahu - whose deputation was shunted down the agenda in December - addressed council today in front of whanau and supporters. "What unfolded that day was absolutely disgusting and shameful. I witnessed some elected members bully their way to getting what they wanted. "And now your conduct has been extensively investigated, documented, reviewed and condemned and made public for the world to see." He said what happened was not just a breach of process, but a breach of trust and the fundamental democratic and cultural responsibilities the TRC was obligated to uphold. Moeahu said a submission prepared by TRC which expressed concern about the Treaty Principles Bill was abruptly dismissed without discussion. "Let's not mince words that was not governance, that was cowardice hiding behind collusion." He said the offending councillors attempt to brush-off their actions as a miscommunication didn't wash with him. "I was met with contempt, I was made to feel less." Moeahu said the TRC had statuary obligations to take the Treaty of Waitangi into account and it had partnering with Māori explicitly enshrined as a strategic priority in its long-term plan. "This isn't a training issue. It's an absolute failure in governance. When elected members treat Treaty matters as too political or not appropriate you betray your role." He hoped the point of reckoning the report represented could be a turning point for the TRC. "Leadership is a privilege you have been afforded... do better Taranaki Regional Council." Dinnie Moeahu's father Peter - an iwi appointee to the council's Policy and Planning Committee - also made a deputation and took aim at councillors by name. "People who spout democracy but connive behind closed doors to suppress it. "People like councillor (Tom) Cloke, councillor Donald McIntrye and councillor (Neil) Walker who used their privilege position to bully the regional council chair and chief executive into submission at the December 10 meeting." Peter Moeahu said whether the councillors adopted the report or not he would not trust them or forgive them for how they treated his son. He called on them to withdraw from the local government elections. "Our community deserves better, our community deserves people who are open-minded, environmentally focussed ... and willing to have a meaningful and open relationship with hapū, iwi and manuwhenua. "My recommendation? Withdraw from the ballot." At the closing of his deputation, the Moeahu whānau performed an impassioned haka. Council chief executive Steve Ruru then spoke briefly to the report which he authored. He reminded the council of its findings that the Treaty Principles Bill was relevant to TRC business and to make a submission and debate it appropriately. "One of the big learnings coming out of this is that process issue again which is highlighted in there and obviously there are a range of recommendations made." Taranaki Māori Constituency councillor Bonita Bingham believed council had underestimated "the impact of the trampling of our mana" events of December had for Māori. "I really thank Peter and Dinnie for their kōrero today because their words expressed what many of us are feeling. "I would like all councillors to deeply reflect on the actions and collusion and predetermination that lead to the decision on December 10. "This was no miscommunication this was a deliberate attempt to squash our voice." After sitting in stoney silence Donald McIntyre was the only one of the three councillors directly under fire to speak during the meeting. "Obviously I've upset some people with my actions and I'm sorry they feel aggrieved." McIntyre acknowledge that it was correct the Treaty Principles Bill submission was on the December agenda. But he said if Dinnie Moeahu being shunted down the agenda was a problem someone should have raised it at the time. "I have yet to see any reference of standing orders being breached and like I say if they were they weren't highlighted at the time." McIntyre believed the procedures used on the day were appropriate and democratic because they were all voted on in an open meeting. "Morally we may have been better to have discussed the item that is probably something we can reflect on in the future, but I still stand by the decision we made at the time." McIntyre said iwi council relations had not been set back significantly "there hasn't been a good relationship in the first instance". That fired up councillor Susan Hughes. "I find it extraordinary that you are sitting here today trying to justify what wasn't in fact and never could be justified. "You set out to exclude myself and councillor Bingham from being involved in any of this. That was the plan and that was the plan that was executed. "You undermined the integrity of this organisation by behaving as you did." Council voted to adopt the report and all its recommendations with McIntyre voting against the motion. Following the meeting, Walker said he would not be withdrawing from the local government elections in October. "I think we're done with this. We've done our thing and we'd like to draw a conclusion over it and put it aside." He denied any collusion had ever occurred. "As far as I'm concerned there was no meetings or any of those things. There was discussion at meetings like today but not meetings." Walker was not inclined to apologise. "What for?" Cloke declined to comment on whether he would pull out of the election race. McIntyre was not standing for re-election. He accepted councillors had colluded ahead of the December meeting. "What's new about that? Of course we did, like I say, when we elect a chairman we collude before the meeting, is there something wrong with that." McIntyre made an apology of sorts. "I apologise to Bonita (Bingham) and Susan (Hughes) for not discussing it (the submission) but I have not further grounds to apologise."
RNZ News
30-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Review condemns Taranaki Regional Council Treaty Principles Bill decision-making
Photo: Taranaki Regional Council An internal review has condemned the Taranaki Regional Council's handling of its decision not to make a submission on the Treaty Principles Bill and not to debate the matter. It found the December 2024 decision-making process inconsistent with standing orders, meeting protocols and broader principles of good governance, transparency and natural justice. There was evidence of pre-meeting discussion and agreement among councillors to oppose making a submission and to curtail debate , which contributed to a perception of predetermination and bias. The handling of a related deputation by New Plymouth District councillor Dinnie Moeahu also fell short of the expected standard of engagement and caused offence. Dinnie Moeahu Photo: Supplied Chief executive Steve Ruru undertook the Council Conduct Review which made a raft of recommendations to improve decision-making and rebuild trust with iwi. He found the consequences of the December 2024 meeting "were severe, as it damaged the Council's reputation, resulted in a loss of trust and confidence in the elected Council from iwi partners and strained internal relationships". Council chair Craig Williamson welcomed the recommendations in the report. "It has been a challenging period for everyone and as a council we have taken time to reflect on what happened and how we can be better moving forward. "This review has identified constructive ways we can do that, and I am confident the council will be stronger as a result." Ruru's review looked at what happened before, during and after the meeting as well as the surrounding circumstances and processes. "Important lessons have been learned and the report includes several key recommendations that the council will consider at its 5 August meeting. "Firstly, it endorses the decision the council made in February to apologise to Mr Moeahu, the Taranaki community and councillors who were denied the opportunity to speak." It recommended training and professional development for councillors on Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its application to the council's work, mātauranga Māori and tikanga of iwi in Taranaki. It also recommended structured training around standing orders and meeting procedures, to ensure these were clear and consistently applied. Ruru said the tight timeframe for submitting on the Bill meant it could not go before the Policy and Planning Committee first as it usually would. His report said the draft submission should have instead been emailed to committee members for comment - even though that might not have changed the outcome. It also recommended the council make greater use of additional meetings outside the set meeting cycle where necessary. Transparency and public input were also areas for improvement with a recommendation that all council and committee meetings be held in venues where they can be livestreamed and recorded. Ruru said his focus was now firmly on the future and the start of a new triennium after October's election was an opportunity for a fresh start. "I have recommended practical steps for the incoming council to consider as well as learning opportunities for councillors. I have also looked at where council officers and I can provide more support and advice to elected members. "When councillors meet after the election, they have the opportunity to implement better procedures, increase their understanding of Treaty and iwi issues and start the mahi to repair relationships and regain the full confidence of our community." Ruru wanted to report to the new council on options for allowing greater public input at meetings.
Scoop
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Te Waka McLeod Facing Peter Moeahu For New Plymouth Māori Ward
In what might be the last election for New Plymouth's Māori ward, voters will choose between a young māmā ushering in the next generation and an experienced campaigner wanting land returned. Three years ago Te Waka McLeod won Te Purutanga Mauri Pūmanawa ward and on Friday confirmed she would stand again. She faces one opponent so far: kaumātua Peter Moeahu, who has been active in council chambers for decades. More may stand before the four week cut-off but candidates are competing for an uncertain prize. Like almost all Māori wards, New Plymouth District Council's newest seat might be pulled from under the victor after three years, via a government-ordered referendum at October's election. McLeod said the threat steeled her determination that the coming generation will know they belong in local government. "Māori faces at the table are vital so rangatahi can imagine themselves sitting there." "If Māori wards are voted down I worry people might forget how deeply we care about how our communities are run, how all our people and places are cared for." During her first term "quiet conversations and gentle educating" had brought progress, as had Taranaki's iwi liaison committees, other committees with tangata whenua representatives, and Māori staff. "Everybody in the room sees how useful it is." "Non-Māori councillors, staff and voters no longer have to guess what we're trying to achieve together with them." McLeod had a baby in office and wanted to show young parents - especially mums - they could be involved. "I don't need to be the loudest voice in the room. I work on kaupapa aligned with my values and my people and that's how change happens." Peter Moeahu often has had the loudest voice in the room. Across the reigns of five New Plymouth mayors he has stood up for mana whenua in Taranaki's council chambers. He sits on Taranaki Regional Council's Policy and Planning Committee and South Taranaki District Council's Te Kāhui Matauraura. Moeahu said several New Plymouth councillors who had become experienced with iwi and hapū aspirations are stepping down, leaving him worried about candidates from right-wing ratepayer groups and the Act Party. "That's why I'm throwing my hat in the ring," he said. "If this is the last term for the Māori ward I want to be there and face up to whoever they chuck at us." Moeahu wants a specific win: the return of land taken from Puketapu hapū in 1968, with no record of compensation. His grandfather Pehimana Tamati helped established a trust for Mangati E Māori Reserve. "Three years later, the county council just took the land. Just took it under the Public Works Act." Earmarked for sewerage works, nothing happened beyond the digging of two oxidation ponds Moeahu believes were never used. New Plymouth District Council inherited control and Mangati E is part of Bell Block's Hickford Park and the coastal walkway. In 2022 Moeahu asked for Puketapu's land back, but councillors halted progress to investigate how to deal with the range of Māori land it governs. "There are Māori reserves all around New Plymouth that were set aside for us to live on, for us to prosper on - and they're no longer in our hands," Moeahu said. He wants Mangati back as a priority and precedent. "I want to see the finalisation of this piece of land, Mangati E, in my lifetime so we don't leave the situation for the next generation." National's coalition deals with NZ First and Act promise referendums for wards elected by voters on the Māori roll. No other type of ward can be voted down. If voters ditch Te Purutanga Mauri Pūmanawa it cannot be resurrected for six years.
Scoop
17-06-2025
- General
- Scoop
Hunua Kōkako Take Flight To Sing A New Song At Maungatautari
Auckland's conservation community is celebrating as the Hunua Kōkako Recovery Project begins the translocation process up to 20 kōkako to Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, marking the first time the Hunua Ranges population will contribute birds to another recovery project. The operation began last Saturday and to date eight birds have been rehomed at Maungatautari. Once teetering on the brink of local extinction, the kōkako of the Hunua Ranges have made an extraordinary recovery thanks to over 30 years of commitment from mana whenua, dedicated volunteers, Auckland Council, and the Department of Conservation. From a low point of just a single breeding pair and 23 individuals in 1994, the population now numbers an estimated 259 breeding pairs as of the 2022 census. Chair of Auckland Council's Policy and Planning Committee Richard Hills says this moment is deeply emotional and symbolic. 'The haunting, melodious call of the kōkako was nearly lost forever in Hūnua. 'Thanks to three decades of perseverance and hard work by volunteers, mana whenua and council staff, we've turned that around. It is a success story that gives other conservation projects across Aotearoa huge hope and drive to keep going,' says Hills. 'To go from one breeding pair to now having enough of these stunning taonga to be able to rehome some with other sanctuaries and help their population thrive, is a profound way to honour that work and help ensure kōkako thrive across New Zealand for generations to come. 'This project shows why investing time and money into our environment is so crucial, we must continue work like this into the future to protect our precious native species. The Hunua project is funded by Auckland Council's Natural Environment Targeted Rate, which continues to support pest control efforts, including a planned aerial 1080 operation in 2025 to sustain the hard-won progress. The Hunua Ranges are now recognised by the National Kōkako Recovery Programme as one of only two mainland habitats to surpass 500 birds and the project is praised for fostering strong genetic diversity. This achievement has only been possible through intensive pest control, including three aerial 1080 operations and thousands of volunteer hours maintaining 3,000 bait stations and 700 traps across rugged terrain. Auckland Council's Project Lead for the Hunua Kōkako Recovery Project, Miranda Bennett reflected on the journey. 'The Hunua kōkako is a success story, one of resilience and community, and a symbol of hope. Other projects once gifted us birds to strengthen our population, now we have the privilege of paying that generosity forward. It's a full-circle moment that fills us with pride and gratitude,' Ms Bennett says. The upcoming translocation, supported by Ngāti Paoa, Ngāti Tamaoho, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, Ngāti Tamatera and Ngāti Whanaunga, will involve a carefully coordinated two-week operation. Led by certified kōkako bander Dave Bryden, a skilled team of Auckland Council staff, volunteers, and contractors will net adult birds, health-check and band them, then gently transport them in specially designed boxes for the two-and-a-half-hour journey to Maungatautari, ensuring they are released by early afternoon to settle into their new home. Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, once devoid of kōkako since the 1970s, has become a stronghold for the species after earlier translocations in 2015 and 2016. A 2020 census recorded 101 territorial birds, confirming it as the fastest growing and largest mainland kōkako population established by translocation at the time. This translocation is a collaborative effort supported by mana whenua from both Hunua and Maungatautari. The receiving iwi, Ngāti Korokī Kahukura, Ngāti Hauā, Raukawa and Waikato are welcoming kōkako with aroha and kaitiakitanga. Chief Executive of Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari Helen Hughes says: 'We are absolutely thrilled to welcome these precious kōkako from the Hunua Ranges. This translocation is significant to our ongoing efforts to protect New Zealand's unique biodiversity. 'It strengthens our population's genetics and deepens our conservation partnerships. We're so thankful to iwi, volunteers, and Auckland Council for making this possible.' Dr. Janelle Ward, Science, Research and Species Lead, adds: 'Kōkako are such special manu, and their haunting song touches both the heart and the spirit. 'This event is especially meaningful as we honour the work done by Hunua iwi, Auckland Council, and community volunteers who have safeguarded these taonga for over 30 years.' The translocation will also help maintain kōkako genetic diversity nationally, laying the groundwork for Maungatautari to one day become a source site for other reintroductions and native corridors like Taiea te Taiao, allowing native species to move safely across Waikato landscapes. As the haunting call of the kōkako prepares to echo once more through the ancient forest of Maungatautari, this milestone stands as a powerful reminder of what long-term vision, cross-agency collaboration, and deep community care can achieve. Love this initiative and want the best for Auckland's future? Stand for council in Auckland's Local Elections 2025. Nominations open 4 July 2025 and close 1 August 2025, midday. If you'd like to learn more about what's involved in standing, visit
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Planning For Auckland's Rapidly Growing ‘Vibrant' South
Article – Torika Tokalau – Local Democracy Reporter A strategy to help support one of Auckland's fastest-growing regions with housing and its thriving farming industry has been approved by Auckland Council. The southern rural areas, which includes the Franklin Ward, are expected to see an increase of 89,900 people, 37,500 households, and 16,500 jobs by 2052. Auckland Council recently approved the new Southern Rural Strategy, which supports the region to accommodate its growing population, while enabling industries like farming and food production to thrive. 'The southern rural area is expected to account for approximately 15 percent of Auckland's overall population growth over the next 30 years,' Franklin Ward Councillor Andy Baker said. The area was one of New Zealand's primary food production regions, with abundant natural resources and some of the most productive land in New Zealand. 'Its strategic location – close to airports, seaport and key export markets – helps to further cultivate these industries.' In a statement, Baker said the strategy provides direction for where housing choices, industries and employment opportunities will grow, 'in a way that supports the area to thrive economically and ecologically'. It includes strengthening the role of Pukekohe and Waiuku as rural service towns, focuses growth in existing urbanised settlements and avoid growth outside settlements, and minimises urban growth where it could have negative impacts on rural production and industries. The strategy also makes sure there is sufficient infrastructure to support new development, support safe access for residential and rural production users with transport and access needs, and celebrates the Māori and Pākehā heritage of towns, villages and other areas. The strategy covers the fullFranklin ward. It also includes some rural land from theHowick, Manurewa,andPapakuralocal board areas. The strategy does not cover the area's quickest growing towns – Drury, Ōpaheke and Pukekohe – which already have community-backed plans to guide their growth. Consultation on the Southern Rural Strategy took place in October to December last year. Deputy chair of Auckland's Policy and Planning Committee, Angela Dalton, said the strategy supports the southern rural area to grow well. 'This is a vibrant region, where traditional industries thrive alongside emerging sectors,' Dalton said. 'The strategy is about balanced growth that minimises the impact on the environment, while improving housing choices and socially connected communities.' By making the most of existing infrastructure, and focusing on projects that deliver multiple benefits, the council was helping set up the region for a resilient and sustainable future, she said.
