Ka tangihia ngā mate huhua o te wā. Hanatu atu rā koutou ki te kāinga wairua i te rangi, ki ngā mātua tīpuna. Waiho atu mātou ki konei hei tangi mōteatea mō koutou. Okioki mai rā. Rātou ki a rātou, ā, tātou ki a tātou. Hei aku nui, hei aku rahi, hei te iwi whānui, nāia te whakamiha ki a koutou i runga i ngā tini āhuatanga o te wā. Mauri ora ki a tātou.
Since the signing of the claim, Ngāi Tahu 2025 has been the main focus of the iwi and collectively we have developed many positive and successful initiatives for our people, which have enabled whānau to achieve their own aspirations. As we approach 2015 we need to start thinking about our future and ask ourselves what it will mean to be Ngāi Tahu in 2050? Recently we held the first of three planned wānanga where the focus was vision: where we as a tribe are headed beyond Ngāi Tahu 2025; and how do we want to get there. I am very excited about the next two wānanga sessions and we will keep you informed on progress and developments.
In the past few weeks, the Freshwater Iwi Leaders Group hosted regional freshwater discussions across the motu to receive feedback about our engagement with the Crown and to seek further direction on aspirations in relation to management, use and allocation of freshwater.
I led five hui here in Te Waipounamu. The in-depth kōrero from whānau and hapū to date has been good, with considerable support expressed for the Iwi Leaders Group. More importantly, whānau unanimously support continued engagement with the Crown on addressing allocating fresh water to iwi.
There is still a lot of work to be carried out in this space and we have technical teams working hard to ensure iwi interests are at the forefront.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the new and returning MPs who were successful on election day. It is great to see our own whānau in Parliament and I wish them all the best for the next three years. I look forward to seeing Papatipu Rūnanga and the office form relationships with the new MPs within our takiwā and to reinvigorate working relationships with returning MPs.
By the time you receive this edition, we will have enjoyed the opening of the new whare tipuna of Ngāti Waewae and also participated in Hui-ā-Tau. For whānau who were unable attend both of these hui, we will have photos and feedback for you in the December issue.
