Or at least that was the message from Te Runanga o Ngati Awa through chief executive Enid Ratahi-Pryor at the special meeting held at Wairaka Marae on March 6.
And she is right but here is my problem. I went to my hapu meeting. I got
given a copy of the key point summary of the TRONA board meeting that was held
last month.
However that report does not match my recollection of the
meeting.
Where was the mention of the Audit Committee report and the
potential workshop? Or the media threat and new embargo policy? Or the adoption of the new conflict of Interest policy? Or even the
discussion of this blog?
There was none of the controversial stuff, instead what is
in there is all of the feel-good stuff that paints the runanga out to be doing
a good job, but how is this fair?Don’t get me wrong, the runanga is making some positive moves in some areas and I am really glad of that but there are also some very concerning signs and I would feel better if we had a bit more of an idea about what is going on.
I mean how do you lose $5.2 million in less than five years
and no-one is held to account?
I for one would prefer a copy of the minutes to be given to
hapu delegates that way we know what motions have been passed and what has been
discussed at the meeting.
And while some of you may say and think that it is the job
of our hapu delegate to inform us, I have serious doubts about the sharing of
information that exists within the runanga’s structure.
Bear with me and I will explain my reasoning.
At that meeting at Wairaka Marae, Mrs Ratahi-Pryor had come
armed.
Rather than adhering to outline that had been identified by
those in attendance she made a presentation.
She began by outlining the structure of runanga, pointing
out that board chairman Te Kei Merito is her boss.
“Your link is through the board. (Chairman) Te Kei Merito is
my boss. I actually link directly to Te Kei. Initially I didn’t have a link to
the hapu but im going to change that. That is why I am here,” she said.
She said it was part of a new initiative to “walk among the
people”.
“It is about me coming to put some reality to some of the
korero… This evening is about starting a journey, a journey of discovery.
“I have heard that many of the voices aren’t being heard and
that is why I’m here…. Much of what I’m hearing is about accountability,
transparency and responsibility.”
She then launched into plans to relocate the runanga’s
offices from Ngati Awa House on Louvain Street.
Explaining the offices were too big because of the scaling
back of staff she said Ngati Awa House could be leased out and earn a rent.
The property has been registered with a real estate agents
and when a tenant is found then the runanga’s offices will be relocated.
Mrs Ratahi-Pryor said management was considering three
options: the army hall near the wharf, the old court-house building or some
other site.
However according to Mrs Ratahi-Pryor the army hall site was
too valuable for offices and it could be used to build a boutique hotel, shops
or an office building to be leased out.
Turning her attention to the court-house and the strip of
land behind it, she explained that this site was considered very viable because
of the proximity to the wharenui.
“There is a Mataatua and we believe we need to be near
Mataatua so that it can be kept alive and warm.”
She then went on to say the runanga could not afford to build
new offices at the moment but it was hoped that they would one day and the
tentative plans are to develop the land next to the court-house.
This is land that is currently being used for affordable iwi
housing to uri from Ngati Hokopu ki Wairaka, Ngati Hokopu ki Hokowhitu and
Wharepaia.
Mrs Ratahi-Pryor said a new office could be paid for by
using the land more effectively.
“Currently we are trying to use the assets of Ngati Awa more
efficiently.
“We haven’t yet come to any firm idea as to what the
triangle will look like. I’m not into turfing our people out but it is about
development.”
Situated in the heart of Wairaka, the news that runanga had
plans to develop this land shocked many at the meeting.
There had always been the rumours that the runanga was
looking at developing this land and there it was clearly outlined on a
schematic plan.
But, she said, nothing had been confirmed yet because she
knew that things were likely get more difficult once Ngati Hokopu knew for
sure.
And now here is where it gets interesting.
Mrs Ratahi-Pryor said once a tenant is found for Ngati Awa
House, the runanga could move into the court-house because the TRONA board had
signed off on it and no resource consent was needed.
“Yes, we could move in tomorrow if we wanted to.”
However Ngati Hokopu ki Wairaka delegate Charlie Bluett
disputed the claim that the board had passed a resolution allowing this to
happen. He said that was not his recollection.
Mrs Ratahi-Pryor was confident this was so and was supported
in her stance by TRONA deputy-chairman Pouroto Ngaropo, who had also attended
the meeting. And as further evidence she said she would get a copy of the
minutes of that meeting and give it to Ngati Hokopu.
Ngati Hokopu ki Wairaka still have not received a copy of
the minutes or any evidence of the resolution and I have spoken to another
board member who agrees with Mr Bluett’s assertion. So who has the right
recollection? Hopefully Mrs Ratahi-Pryor will remember to send the minutes soon
so that we can see.
And hopefully this explains my doubt around whether the
right information is coming out of the runanga.
I mean, did you know that Graham Pryor is the head of the
Investments Committee and Brian Tunui is the new chairman of the Audit
Committee? But more about that later.
Ma te wa.