Me Tū ā-Uru

“Unsurprisingly, for many iwi raupō remains a taonga species today, treasured for this array of resources and for its ecological and even spiritual roles in maintaining the mauri of freshwater habitats, upon which so much depends…We describe raupō as a “human-associated species”, not just because of its taonga status, but because its fate seems so closely linked to people.” An interesting piece by Rewi Newnham about the history, significance and resilience of the raupō. 

Last Thursday Carwyn Jones spoke at the ‘Kia Tiriti’ seminar series at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington.    Carwyn explored really simply how to understand the legal Treaty relationship at the heart of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.    Here are our top takeaways:    1.He Whakaputanga was a declaration from Rangatira stating that they, and no one else, had sovereignty over the whenua in Aotearoa. Furthermore it represented their political authority to enter into treaties with other nations.    2.   A Treaty is an instrument of international law, negotiated between independent nations or communities with political authority.    3.  According to international law, treaties must be interpreted in good faith, in accordance with the ordinary meaning and context and in the light of their object and purpose.    4. The te reo version Te Tiriti o Waitangi, is the official version as this was the version most of the Rangatira signed and was in the language used by the signing parties to negotiate and discuss the content. Recognised principles of treaty interpretation support this approach.   5. The English version of Te Tiriti, is best thought of as a Draft document. It is important to the wider context but not the key document agreed too. 6. Treaties were understood by Indigenous communities as sustaining visions of peace and law. 7. Treaties formed connections and associations and are NOT about assimilation or amalgamation.  

Kia Whitingia is an energy sharing project based in Te Reureu Valley and led by mana whenua. The project utilises solar panels (placed on the Marae and some whānau homes) and a 120 kWh community battery to supply energy at lower rates to five marae and 15 whānau. This initiative is New Zealand's first community battery project and was inspired by the late Māori entrepreneur Graeme Everton and Atawhai Tibble, who established Reureu Kotahitanga. Te Reureu Kotahitanga Ltd on behalf of Ngāti Pikiahuwaewae led the project supported by OurEnergy, McNae Solar and Relectrify. Excess energy produced is sold back to the wholesale market, with proceeds either funneled into a community or used for facility maintenance and services for whānau, hapū, and iwi. The initiative was funded by the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund, which aims to promote sustainable energy solutions and bolster community resilience. https://lnkd.in/gtfkq7hk See more:  https://lnkd.in/gn-nTy8D  https://lnkd.in/gJx3bXN4

“Together, we can chart a path forward where our differences are celebrated, embraced and normalised. Every opportunity that we get to learn more about (and honestly reflect on) our history, is an opportunity to enrich the social fabric of our country for future generations. The more we know today, the better decisions we can make for tomorrow.” Kassie Hartendorp shares key learnings from Matike Mai and how this document changed forever how she views Aotearoa New Zealand.

“The beauty of an integrated approach is that it addresses several problems simultaneously. By rethinking wastewater ponds as renewable energy hubs, New Zealand can turn an existing problem into a key part of the solution…. It could generate enough power to supply about 27 percent of households with renewable energy from wastewater ponds, offering immediate relief from the electricity crisis while supporting emissions reduction targets.” Faith Jeremiah discusses floating solar panels on wastewater ponds as multifaceted answer to unreliable energy supply, strict emissions reduction targets and ongoing environmental issues related to wastewater ponds. 

In 2017, the Te Uri o Hau Settlement Trust established the Te Ārai Native Nursery as part of its mission to empower the iwi toward self-reliance and socio-economic equality, while also revitalising the mauri of the Kaipara Harbour. In its first year alone the nursery distributed over 350,000 plants free of charge to more than 200 individuals and organizations for conservation projects within the Kaipara catchments. Today it plays a vital role in the Kaipara Moana Remediation project.The nursery is flourishing as a successful initiative, achieving dual benefits: it not only preserves and revives Aotearoa’s native flora and helps restore the Kaipara catchment  but also creates job opportunities for the iwi and the wider community. https://lnkd.in/gqzGZTvh

“I have empathy for my own generation who didn’t get to learn our history, and anyone else who just doesn’t know the basic facts I’ve been lucky enough to learn over the course of my career…I reflected on what I learned, and I thought, this is not technical legal information you should have to be a lawyer specialising in the area to know. I felt like I should have already known it.” Earlier this year Roimata Smail created a pocket guide on Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The booklet contains basic facts and information on what happened in 1840 and the years that followed.  Find it here: https://lnkd.in/g7-PUYBt “I felt it was important to carry the story on from 1840 to present day. For example, the statistics on Whānau Ora really stepping up during Covid-19 and being able to show how some of those Māori solutions still struggle to be recognised.”

“Everyone can appreciate the haka, and witness its power, because the foundations of this country laid a platform for peaceful coexistence. More specifically, the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in 1840 provides the basis for non-Māori like me to be here to acknowledge a world record like this– “Te Tiriti” being the Māori version of the Treaty, affirmed by leading legal and historical figures as the authoritative text.” A thoughtful piece by Max Harris te Tiriti, the recent haka record and the Treaty Principles bill. 

Most of us in Aotearoa want to strive for a better world for the next generation. As a country we are capable of  great things and if we work together honouring our histories, we can learn from past harms and find solutions that benefit all of us. Retaining the steady progress made to honor Te Tiriti o Waitangi over recent decades makes the most sense to take our country forward together. 💚

Amazing work by Te Arawa Lakes Trust (TALT) and Ngāti Rangiwewehi with support from MPI has eradicated a highly invasive aquatic weed in Kaikaitahuna (Hamurana Springs)! After two and a half years of dedicated inspections, training, and hard work by Ngāti Rangiwewehi and TALT the weed has been officially eradicated from the awa as of September 2024. https://lnkd.in/gYFch7SS