Ngāti Kahungunu whānui has again put up its hand, recently hosting a National Hui of Māori leadership. 

On October 31 – 2 November, Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Inc. along with Post Settlement Government Entities (PSGE), Tamatea Pōkai Whenua, Mana Ahuriri, Maungaharuru Tangitū, Ngāti Hineuru, Ngāti Pāhauwera and Tātau Tātau o te Wairoa hosted the National Iwi Chairs Forum (NICF) at Toitoi Hastings.  

Says Ngāti Kahungunu Chair, Bayden Barber, “Ngāti Kahungunu along with Te Piringa Hapū and the PSGE’s recently hosted the Hui Taumata at Omāhu Marae in May so we know what it takes to manaaki the motu. It is a big job with lots of moving parts but we were able to pull together and host a very successful event.” 

The theme of this NICF was Tika tonu ū e! Tika tonu ki te taiao, tika tonu ki te wheiao! This draws on the famous Ngāti Kahungunu haka, Tika Tonu (Do what is right). The “taiao” was a theme because of the impact of Gabrielle and the resilience needed to overcome and thrive again which is represented by the “ū e”, or stay strong and resolute regardless of the challenges.

The National Iwi Chairs Forum is made up of eighty-five iwi and PSGE’s from around the country. It has been operating for over twenty years now and has been a key forum for engaging with the government on its key pou or priorities, tahua (economic), taiao (environment), tangata (social), tikanga (cultural) and āhuarangi (climate change). The forum has grown recently with most iwi having settled their Treaty grievances and are now in a post-settlement environment.  

The kaupapa started with a pōwhiri at Waipatu marae on Wednesday 31st October, the home of the Kotahitanga Māori Parliament that was established there in 1892.  Kaumātua and past iwi Chair, Ngahiwi Tomoana was the Kahungunu speaker and was able to weave all the tribes into our shared whakapapa. 

This followed with a lunch and then all 250-odd participants were herded onto buses for a tour around Hawke’s Bay to visit and learn about some of the PSGE developments around housing, land and commercial developments and business opportunities. Toro Waaka, Chair of Ngāti Pahauwera Trust says, “We were able to show off our apple orchard in Tāngoio which is producing some of the best fruit in the region.”  

After the bus tour, the iwi and PSGEs were able to share some of the learnings from the Cyclone Gabrielle experience at the Assembly Room at Toitoi. The rest of the day was facilitated by the pou tahua (economic forum) of the NICF. There have been some major gains from working with the government on shared priorities. In 2022, several iwi (including Ngāti Kahungunu) were supported to provide housing for their iwi members during the housing crisis.  

Says Barber, “Housing continues to be a major priority for NICF. The past government was very supportive of iwi providing housing. We are still unclear whether this will continue with the new Coalition Government, but the signs are not looking good. The real strength is leveraging our iwi resources and delivery models to get more homes on the ground.”

The following day and a half was spent reviewing the strategic objectives of the forum. Much discussion was had around the numerous hui-ā-motu, kotahitanga and the role of the NICF in supporting these kaupapa.  

Engagement with the government was also a big topic of discussion. 

At the last NICF in Auckland, over half of the iwi members refused to attend the government visit by the Prime Minister and his senior ministers due to their intention to introduce the Treaty Principles Bill and the slashing of Māori government policy. Historically the forum has been an active vehicle in engaging government across each of the pou priorities. Due to the strained relationships, it will be interesting to see what happens at the next NICF at Waitangi where all eyes will be on the Māori Crown relationship that was sealed at the home of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. 

Says Barber, “Despite all the backwards steps this government has taken over the past 12 months, we must endeavour to maintain a relationship. They need to hear what we are thinking and vice versa. 

“The recent Census shows that Māori are close to one million in number and younger. We are not going anywhere but forward and upward!”