The consultation on the proposed Deed of Acknowledgement between the Crown, Auckland Council and Te Kawerau ā Maki will end shortly. The closing date for feedback is April 28.
There has recently been distributed locally a pamphlet from an organisation called Democracy Action which makes these claims:
The proposed joint committee would grant decision-making power to unelected iwi members, undermining public accountability and democratic oversight over a vast area of public land.
There are concerns that public access to the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park could be at risk. Te Kawerau a Maki has already made it clear that it seeks to restrict public access to 35% of the park.
Decision-making for the park and heritage area must be transparent and democratic, with all decision-makers being elected and accountable to the public.
Key concerns include the undemocratic structure of the joint committee, lack of transparency regarding the Deed of Acknowledgement, and potential precedents for other regional parks.”
The claims resemble similar claims that have been brought against other proposals such as Three Waters and the Hauraki Gulf Forum.
And Democracy Action appears to have some links to other Atlas adjacent organisations. Donald Brash was a founding member. He is now really active in Hobson’s Choice. And Democracy Action shares a registered office with the Free Speech Union as well as the Gulf Users Group which has been making similar claims about Iwi involvement in the Hauraki Gulf.
The underlying claim is that any sort of co-governance with Iwi will be an affront to democratic values.
With the greatest of respect to whoever wrote this pamphlet what they say is not correct.
If passed there will continue to be direct democratic input into the Committee and it will not have exclusive power over what happens in the Ranges. Council’s budgeting processes will continue to have most relevance to what happens. It is something I learned many years ago, if it is not funded then it will not happen.
My view is that public engagement and oversight will increase with the formation of the Committee. Currently many decisions are made at an officer level and it is difficult to understand what is happening. This Committee with published agendas and no doubt community interest will increase, not lessen, oversight.
As for the claims about public access this is a reference to Te Kawerau ā Maki’s Heart of the Ngahere proposal. This is a suggestion that the health of the Ranges will be enhanced by the creation of a conservation area in the heart of the Ranges.
This is not too dissimilar to the Ark in the Park strategy which has already set aside 2,200 hectares in the Ranges for the preservation and enhancement of wildlife. I am not aware of there being any controversy about the Ark in the Park which in my view is achieving a great deal of good.
Like ocean sanctuaries and reserves I believe the Ngahere strategy proposal needs to be considered carefully. Anything that will improve the quality of the Ranges environment should be given favourable consideration.
The language used in the brochure is also highly disrespectful to Te Kawerau ā Maki.
My dealings with them over the past couple of decades has shown to me that their intentions in relation to Te Wao Nui a Tiriwa are protective and welcome. They have a collective view and understanding formed over centuries that needs to be respected and acknowledged.
And the proposal is consistent with the Treaty of Waitangi.
Under article 2 the Crown promised to Iwi tino rangatiratanga over their forests and fisheries and other taonga.
The Ranges have been taken from Te Kawerau ā Maki using a variety of means.
The Crown summary of Te Kawerau ā Maki’s treaty settlement records this history:
From 1848 the Crown commenced a systematic programme of land purchasing to the west and immediate north of Auckland to provide land for settlers and to gain control of the rich timber resources there. In 1853 and 1854 the Crown acquired around 100,000 acres in the Waitakere Ranges in the heart of Te Kawerau a Maki’s rohe. The Crown did not conduct an adequate investigation of customary rights in this area and only dealt with Te Kawerau a Maki after purchasing land from other iwi. No reserves were set aside for Te Kawerau a Maki in the large Hikurangi block, and the Piha and Waitakere Native reserves, which were created for Te Kawerau a Maki, were not protected from later alienation.”
Allowing Te Kawerau ā Maki some ability to have an input into the future of Te Wao Nui o Tiriwa is in my view the least that we can and should do.
And we should not be afraid. They have the best intentions of the heritage area at heart.
This is needless fearmongering. We really need to have a proper discussion about our future and the importance and relevance of Te Ao Maori.
Fearmongering in the way that Democracy Action has engaged in is not the way to achieve this.
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