.." a man's philosophy is the sum of his beliefs.....the assumptions upon which he habitually acts......

I think the best way to respond to Steve is to publish him so that we can all know what is going on. The interesting thing about being open and transparent on the Internet, is there is no where to hide.
I get many responses to the different things written which is what happens with a blog that is on a global Internet. The blog offers opportunity for dialogue which is what humans need to do when there is conflict or debate. Perhaps others will respond as well.


"Kia ora whanau

this is a response to a blog from Evelyn which is below,
Evelyn never hears anyone else does she but she has been true to form since 1988 and we all can't deny that.
A report concerning the Audit Hui's will be put to Trustee's by the end of May from Wynn Williams than on to Iwi members so that will break the Ominous silence Evelyn can hear.
I see you breaking your Ominous silence to Te Karere yesterday Evelyn sounded like a personal vendetta against Charlie Preece.

I wonder where your consultation with Runanga members was before you headed to the High court or is this personal.

Well at least some of the current Trustee's of the Iwi trust are consulting with their Iwi members for direction, all of us who choose to live in NZ can't remember to much consulting going on since 1988 by any of our previous Ngati Mutunga O Wharekauri Iwi structures.

Evelyn it's a shame you didn't have a longer time slot to explain what process seen you hired at the Runanga last time Oop's and the whanau.
While you are being open about the past you should tell the Moko's and Te Karere a fishy story how the Runanga had a fishy Company and a toy fishy boat and use to catch fishy's while you are at it tell the Moko's who use to Captain the toy fishy boat and manage it's fishy Company and before they go to sleep tell the Moko's what happened to the fishy Company and the fishy's and the toy fishy boat.
Don't forget to record it all it could be a best seller then the moko's will be able to live happy ever after Yep we may even be able to buy them some chocolate fishy's .
Never mind Eve everything will be revealed all in good time got to say Eve I'm starting to smell some fishy's maybe the deep freeze has had enough and called it a day I hope some of those deep freeze's from 1988 do the same then not only the moko's can live happy ever after.

From your cruz,
Steve Tuuta

An Ominous Silence ..Te Wai Pounamu Hui-a-Iwi...

There's been a ominous silence following the Christchurch Hui a Iwi!
No news from anyone apart from an odd email from my brother, a visit from a deeply concerned member, family fights and the flu! Life goes on ...
I thought there would be much more activity as the Wellington Hui was such a success despite the fact it was shut down by karakia - for the day - rather then just for lunch - as we all thought was going to happen. A good trick but in 2009, a little obvious. If you can't handle the heat - get out!

Here's the thing.

Ngati Mutunga Iwi Trust has been allocated quota ( ACE), shares, cash as a share of a Treaty settlement with Maori by Crown, FOR FISH. This did not include the land settlement.
The right to any Treaty asset exists because hopefully,members whakapapa to a tribe , in this case, Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri and that includes members of the Runanga.
When TOKM allocated the assets to NMoW Iwi Trust, the Runanga members did not lose the right to the treaty assets, they lost the access because the NMoW Iwi Trust refused to engage in any form of dialogue, to sort out access rights for Runanga members.
That right remains today - and will not be going away. Those tasked with sorting out the current Iwi Trust mess, ought to remember this critical point. Hopefully another grievance will be avoided.

The entity eventually set up, had to follow certain rules set out by TOKM.
How it is managed, is also governed by rules, regulations, laws and Acts of Parliament. Those appointed to positions of management, are required to follow the rules - or were supposed to. My case against the Runanga was all about those who were appointed to the Board and who did not follow the rules.

Following the Wellington Hui,it has become obvious that there is much amiss within the Iwi Trust then previously known. In fact, in my view, when I read the audit overview papers, it is a bigger mess then the Runanga ever was. That must leave the Board in a most vulnerable position with its members who may or may not, chose to bring them to account for failing in their fiduciary duties of care. Saying ' its not my fault- I didn't do it' is not enough in today's economic climate. Insurance polices and Trustee indemnities, may not be enough to keep away responsibility for what has happened.

The question is ' how will they sort out the mess? What will be their priority?

Will it be cost ? i.e the least cost option which means members money will be saved.
Will it be a personal vendetta against individuals? i.e. to 'get them at all cost' for what they have done, make it publicly known,have personal ego's celebrated for 'getting them' and then to save the tribe last?
How will this help our whanau?. Will a personal vendetta help the economic,social, cultural and education needs of our whanau?
Or
Will they chose the option that gives the greatest good to all?

One thing I am absolutely certain of is this - all governments want the what is good as it is what they are chosen to do - govern for the good of the people. They will not want tax payer money or the Treaty asset, wasted on individual vendetta's while the good of the tribe is ignored. That is not good leadership or governance by anyone, including the Trustees.
What ever they do - lets hope it is for the good of Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri and its people, its rohe, is papakainga. They have taken a pounding over the past years.

The Runanga:
I am working through requests by the Maori Trustee, as set out in the Orders of the Court. There is further financial analysis to do before a report is handed back to the court and the new Chairman takes over. I will keep you informed of events as they happen.

cheers Evelyn

Hui a Iwi - Te Whanganui a Tara....

From its genesis as a splinter from its parent in the mid 90's, Ngati Mutunga Iwi Trust has always attracted drama and intrigue of the highest order. Like the conflicts between a defiant adolescent and parent, the ever widening relationship between the leaders of the Runangq and Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri Trust, like power games anywhere in the world, inevitably caught the people and the Islands in a net of intrigue and deception.

As part of an audit review process, Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri iwi Trust held the first of 3 Hui a Iwi, in Wellington on the weekend and it attracted a good turnout. The purpose of the Hui was to tell people about the scope of a total management audit and to hear what people wanted to say about it. And so they did ! And the kina ,crayfish and paua fitters were delicacies that reminded us of ourselves - soul food!

While I arrived late there was a good feeling amongst all. It is always good to see other Chatham Islanders ! I couldn't help noticing with relief, the presence of next two generations as part of the kaiwhakahaere team and the sense of a continuity of rangatiratanga - manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga, that they demonstrated. The capacity to look after people and to protect and support each other as we go through our lives, to face the challenges thrown at us and to find a pathway through, is really what it is all about. Strong and healthy communities are those that provide leadership and care that spills over to the flax roots level in meaning ways. if its not working for them, why should they support you ?

Have you ever wondered why no one takes any notice of the Chathams when it raises its voice in protest? We are 1% of the total Maori population and 0.0% of the total NZ population so in a world where numbers dictates everything, we really don't cause too much concern for Parliament except perhaps " What are we going to do with the Chathams?

So how should we respond? Wait for government to do it ? Or grow up and get on with the job?

The essence of a Treaty of Waitangi based Island in a post modern society must be that it has systems that empowers our whanau, hapu and the Iwi, where ever they are. The core unit of a tribe is the whanau. We only have one Rohe.
If we as an Iwi, cannot grow our whanau, our tribe will dissolve into an amorphous soup of unimportance and insignificance. Only we can change how Ngati Mutunga is to survive into the future.

It follows that those who are elected to represent the people of Mutunga on boards, companies or executive committee's, must bring benefit by way of products, services or by dividends and income to the people, i.e. to empower the tribe.
If you don't have the skills or experience to do the job, you have an obligation to get some training or to appoint people who can. No one knows everything about anything.

On the other hand, members need to appoint people who have the skills and experience who can strategically manage their assets and tribal organisation, to bring profit and benefit that you have, hopefully, identified previously. With a multi million dollar organisation, the current Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri Board cannot ignore its corporate responsibilities as it manages itself and its subsidiaries, nor can it ignore its fiduciary duties to members. Underlying it all, is the continuing need to make sure the nature and extent of the Treaty right is protected and not lost. It is a huge responsibility and each tries to do their best.

So, how did the Hui go? How is the Board doing? Good question !

This was the first time I had been to NM Iwi Trust Hui and as there are several Treaty policies currently being addressed by
government, I was keen to know how the Iwi Trust was dealing with the issues. The protection mechanism of a Treaty based organisation can be found in the content of the constitution or Trust deed. As they had received the Treaty assets from TOKM, my expectation was that there would be stringent mechanisms in place - I had been part of the team that developed the rules so I was keenly focused on the presentation. Others made very equally focused enquiry abut the financial investment and management.

I think the best thing to say is that the audit review is well overdue and may in fact , be too late to rescue the organisation. With an 81 page document, the cost of reviewing must be weighed against the loss that is occurring or will occur and against fiduciary duties required by law. The Trust has been up and running for 5 years and there does not seem to be much growth of the assets or benefit back to the members by way of products, services and or dividend value.

The Board faced very pointed questions on the current state of the finances and seemed unable to answer clearly and at times, simply did not know the answers or chose to close down the questions. This brought a series of heated responses and a list of further queries were added to the review. It was also revealed that the Iwi Trust technically, has no mechanism in its deed for monitoring and protecting the Treaty based rights outlined above. Members then asked for copies of the agreement with TOKM as the situation seemed out of kilt and it seemed obvious TOKM would behave been aware of the situation. It seemed to be a mess on all fronts.

From my position, I felt the only way out was to do what I have been saying on the blog since the beginning - to form a joint working party to work on bringing the 2 groups together. In this way, the best of both constitutions, can be brought together in a new organisation without loss of assets or any mana of Ngati Mutunga or its people. It would then allow government to engage in a proper mandated Treaty settlement process with Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri.

In the event, the Hui in Chch may well have a significant influence on how things will go for Mutunga of Wharekauri.

Lets hope they do the right thing!

It was a great Hui ! Good luck for the rest.

cheers Evelyn

Being Right or Doing Right.... What is Tika....?

Someone once said enemies or those who set out to cause you harm, animosity or dis-service, are your greatest teachers of inner strength, courage, determination and compassion. In the face of such crisis and events, outer cloaks of socially accepted behaviours are often stripped away leaving the raw reality of life.

The Rev Maori Marsden once said

"a man's philosophy is the sum of his beliefs;the assumptions upon which he habitually acts "

My mother would respond when I asked her about things

" All I know is what I saw and this is what I saw and this is what happened"

I am reading over some papers for the hui tomorrow in Wellington and can't help pondering over the past 20 years as it reflects in the words of Maori Marsden. I sometimes think the problems of the world can be found inside our families and that if we turn and face problems inside ourselves with the hope of making life better for those involved, it is highly likely that the world outside ourselves will also start to change and become a better place. As both Mutunga groups, Ngati Mutunga Iwi Trust and Te Runanga o Wharekauri face their internal conflicts, the hope is that there will be a better future together, for all members of Mutunga o Wharekauri Iwi.

As with all situations where there is conflict, every individual has a perception of what is reality? what is right? and what is wrong? In most cases, " my reality is what is happening to me and therefore I am right and you are not right." is the position taken and of course, we face the outcome of what we think and do. , and made decisions based upon what they knew.

Reality
If we ask ourselves what happened to Mutunga, the answer lies in the crisis now facing the Runanga and Ngati Mutunga Iwi Trust.
The reality for both groups is that their existence comes directly from a legal right that is legitimised by the Treaty of Waitangi.
In 1988, the Runanga was set up as a direct response to devolution and governments need to engage with the Maori tribes of NZ.
While they existed as authentic and legitimate structures as a culture of indigenous people, Crown did not recognise such entities and thus, did not have any legal structure which in their view, allowed them to engage in the business of government, with Maori. They provided services to Maori, through the Department of Maori Affairs.
Maori were thus required to set up legal entities that met government rules.
At the same time, major challenges to Maori Treaty fishing rights were being debated in the High Court and the Court of Appeal. The Chathams were represented by the New Zealand Maori Council, one of the parties in High court case. Devolution was also in full flight under Rogernomics.
Why NZ Maori Council?
The Chatham Islands Maori Committee, was a sub committee operating under the Te Wai Pounamu council, which was a regional committee of the NZ Maori Council. Our signature to the MZ Maori Council case in the High Court, was that of Roger Preece.

I remember the Ministerial Hui held at Whakamaharatanga Marae, made possible when I hijacked the final National Hui bringing in 'Iwi' development ' as it became known, in Wellington and Koro Wetere agreed to go the the Chatham's. Chatham's wasn't on the Hui list. What I remember most on the Islands, was the fighting and arguing between locals, inside the marae. It was a symptom of what was to come.

From this visit,I was appointed by the Minister, to deal with policy for the Chathams and the first job was to set up an entity to represent the tribal community of Wharekauri. Hui were held and the Runanga was set up as an incorporated society, which held as its foundation, the Treaty of Waitangi It has stood the test of many a tight scrutiny.

As the fisheries settlement debate progressed and Iwi (as Maori tribes were now known),company and individual competition for resources began to emerge, families began to pull away from the Runanga and seek a self determination in the new political and economic environment. Around that, political plays and policies began to shape the quest for those organisation and individual goals. A study of the organisations, groups and individuals that emerged during the fisheries debate,provide us with a wealth of information and study about the changing shape of traditional codes and customs.

New interpretations of customs and rights appeared, shaped by the changing political and economic landscapes and altered realities for all. Goals changed. Where once there was just the Treaty, we began to see the emergence of an analysis and policies with new realities and perceptions. " Principles " of the Treaty began to appear, forcing Maori into turbulant and unchartered waters as we sought to protect that which we held so dear and near. Where do we start? and what do we say? as the new opportunities provided by income from the quota, clashed with customary philosophies and codes.

For the Runanga, the game kicked off with the Sealords Deal as we challenged the Governmenet and tribes of NZ about the fisheries settlement. Up until this point, the Chathams had been subsummed into Kai Tahu by way of the NZ Maori Council. We had no seperate voice or rather, the island inhabitants had no idea of how to deal with what was seen as weapons of control i.e the machinary of local and central government. 'Council' was the authority i.e it was seen as such as they had a mechanism which government seemed to heed. The Council leaders were well known for trooping off to Wellington and coming back with news of who they had been to see , to get things done. In fact, it was the Chairman of the County Council who was instrumental in bringing together the initial hui which set up the Runanga in 1988. And as we all knew, all eyes were on the quota.
The debate in NZ, continued as tribes challenged Crown and each other, over critical interpretations of tikanga Maori in all legal forums. The debates was pounded out in the highest courts of the NZ and Britain e.g what is an iwi?.

The commercial constraints and administrative laws, surrounding the new entities that had to be set up, to deal with these new philosophies of managing resources and people, have continued to bring conflict. The dichotomy and duality of values between the individual right and the collective right, has created major conflicts up and down the country. The seeds of discontent and conflict in the Mutunga groups, can be found in these dualities of rights and values.

The Chatham's had its own form of emerging interpretations of customs as political and economic landscapes converged in quests for wealth, self determination and reparation - all rolled in one.

But ohh ! those perceptions of reality and right ! How far? how long ? and when did the Treaty start on the Chathams ?
where do you put the stake in the ground to make the perception valid ? How do we know it is valid? Can the Tribunal tell us about ourselves? did they write of our stories?
Is it the money? the fish? the people? or the land? outside Iwi? or government?

WHO IS RIGHT?

The Tribunal report is confusing on critical custom of conquest. In fact, it could even be said to be laying a 2 bob bet each way, to make things tika. Oh dear, there's that word again ! Has war ever been fair? Someone won and others lost. Did these things happen only on the Chathams?

SO WHAT IS THIS THING CALLED CUSTOM?

And what importance do all these things have on the structure and constitution of organisation's who say they represent the tribe, Ngati Mutunga? What does that mean? What of rangatiratanga?

The Treaty of Waitangi

The important thing to get about the two organisations is that both exist because of the importance and legal status of the Treaty of Waitangi.
It follows that both must reflect the fundamental philosophies of the Treaty, in their constitution, their management and their policies. This also means all elected to Executive positions, ought to know what the Treaty is all about especially as it impacts upon the land and the people. All are held in the rangatiratanga of Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri. They become kaitiaki for tribe and have a duty of care of the people. Having such a duty means they make themselves available to ' be of service" to the people , the environs and future generations.

The current conflicts between the two groups are not consistent with being kaitiaki of a tribe. Service seems to have been for self interest and is not so obvious, for the people, the environs or for future generations.

Of particular concern, is the on going controversies over whakapapa for political gain to boast registration numbers for Moriori i.e the whakapapa of our tupuna kuia, Ngahiwi Dix. My great grandfather was Manuera Dix. What is disturbing is the associated compromise of fundamental principles of the Treaty, of customary rights and the Rohe Potae, by Executive members, for what can only be described as greed or self interest. Why else would you compromise your customrry right to land for some fish?

Personally, I cannot see how Ngahiwi could be granted land if she had been of Moriori descent. There are a number of early succession applications recorded in the Maori Land where the Judge clearly states that succession could only be awarded to Maori. It seems to me she is more closely related to Te Rauparaha, which makes her principally Ngati Toa and Mutunga. Now as Ngati Haumia was a hapu of Toa, that makes the reserve at Waitangi, an interesting place ? How's that for a twist in perception?
Ω
Once again the confusion tells us we need to manage our whakapapa and customary land information much better then is being done now. One of the greatest damages done when all Runanga staff were dismissed in 2007, was the Treaty research on the court wards of land blocks blocks and identity of the tupuna granted land and history of owners, stopped. The cost of the dismissal is immeasurable. Those of Mutunga, must dialogue and korero with each other, to learn and know who they are and what Mutunga is.

So on we go ...but where to?

I heard Cris Finlayson say on TV something about how a divided people can never be united. I thought how fitting that described Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri but it also sent a message to us. My hope is that the Ngati Mutunga Hui being held in Wellington, Christchurch and the Chathams, will not only face their internal conflicts, but also set a pathway for the future of Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri.

They ought to reccommend that a joint Working Party be set up, with the terms of reference to bring the two constitutions together, to take the best from each and to reshape it into a strong, efficient and effective wharenui for Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri, so that it may engage meaningfully and fully, in the local, national and global society, as it has always done.


Still no media statement so I will put the draft version on the Google groups- Wharekauri site.
Do This:
Go to Google. click on Groups. click on the document you want to read OR
Click on 'wharekauri ' and then the document OR
Type 'wharekauri ' into the search box.

cheers Evelyn

Orders of The Court

It looks like the media statement has not been released yet as I am still waiting for Charlie to respond to the draft that was sent to him. Maybe he will send it out anyway - without checking with anyone , hopefully to newspapers in Chch, Wellington and Auckland as well as the Chathams.

Anyway, as I am not prepared to wait another 2 years to get information out, I am posting the Orders of the Court on Google groups site- Wharekauri, so that you can see what the court has ordered.
As per the order, we are currently going through a process of agreeing on the terms of engaging the Maori Trustee.

I keep harping on about the huge cost and loss of opportunity that has occurred with the actions by the Chair and the Board taken in 2007. This also includes the loss of access to government services including major economic policies like the Economic Summit for Maori, health and education initiatives during those 2 years. A critical issue is the seabed and foreshore debate. The Ministerial Review Panel on the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004 is accepting written submissions up until 19 May 2009all groups with customary interests in the foreshore and seabed should make submissions. That means you. Ia anyone preparing a submission ? everyone should. I will post the details when I get them.

In the middle of case, my father's sister, Aunty Min (Te Miri), passed away in Chch. Confined to full time care as disease overcame her once fastidious focused mind, it was a relief to hear that she had gone. Amidst the chaos of the case, I needed to write of her, to mihi to her, as she had done so much for me during and for my life.
She had also told many stories and I had taped her telling those stories as I knew they were of a bygone era, about which, we would not hear from anyone else. So many of the issues being debated amongst the new kaumatua and kuia, would have been given greater credibility, if the stories of this generation, could have told to us all.
I will post the story when it is finished as I think we need to celebrate our kuia who achieved in her chosen profession of nursing, at a time in this country when the glass ceiling for Maori women was about 2 feet above the floor with a pinny and a scrubbing brush.

I loved to listen to her stories about going to school at Kairakau.. walking from Torotoro..she was brought up by Takiri ( daughter of Ngahiwi Dix) and Rua Herata. Ngahiwi was midwife to our grandmother, Te Amo Ngaonemaringi (Daymond) daughter of Te Amo Rereti and Matoha Daymond ( Tuhata) ...but there was bush about then... In her last year at school, there were 2 in her class, Mick Lanauze and her!
Their stories are critical as they tell us our real history...Hopefully someone will record his story and that of all our kaumatua and kuia.

This brings me to the notice I received about the Ngati Mutunga Trust Hui being held for the purpose of talking about a thousand things including an audit. Looks like you have to bring a sleeping bag, with a list that big. As a non-member, it looks scary! what do you guys do?

Maybe it's time we all sat down and had a yarn about how we can sort things out together. After all, we are all one tribe from an island Rohe - quite unique actually. And we are not going to go away. Why not sort out the mess together and try and find a better way of doing things as it is obvious, what's happening now , is not working.

Who knows.. maybe this was all meant to be ?

cheers Evelyn

Statement of Claim

I have created another site for documents. It also has its own email that you can use. It was too difficult to do it any other way and you don't have fast download services. Anyway- here goes. Email me if it doesn't work for you.

Current web address:
http://groups.google.co.nz/group/wharekauri
Current email address:
wharekauri@googlegroups.com

FOLLOW THESE STEPS

1.Go to Google.com OR click on link above, which ever works for you.
2.Click on 'groups'
3.In the search box - type Wharekauri.
4.This will take you to Google sites with the 'Wharekauri' site at the top.
5. Click on Wharekauri and this will
EITHER
a) take you to a green site and a file called " Statement' .
6. Double Click on the file called 'Statement'
OR
7. Click on ' open' on the blue menu box that opens
8. Double click on the pdf file in the box on the RIGHT hand side. The statement of claim is inside. Just use the magnifying icon at the top of your page to increase the size of the document. There are 15 pages.


THE STATEMENT

I am posting this as it is a public document available to anyone. This outlines the greivances I had. The Maori Trustee withdrew and another independant Chair was found.
The hearing on 1 April was to resolve the matter. It had taken 2 years to get the Chairman to this point. My concern was that you are missing out on critical government services, the cost of continually delaying the case, and opportunities lost as a result, has been too high.

Discussions have taken place to bring to the matters to a head so that you can get on with things that need to be done. While I am not at liberty to discuss what went on inside the court, the court documents are a public record. When they are released, I will add them to this same site so that you can read for yourself what happened.
My position was that I have no right to put at risk the rights of other members of the organisation or Ngati Mutunga.
There will be a media statement released.


cheers Evelyn

It's Been A Busy Old Time ....

It's been a busy old time these last 2 weeks. Much happened.
In the days leading up to 1 April, as expected, things became more hectic, people reacted as the final form of what was to happen, took shape.

I have always found the law to be an interesting phenomena.
As one of our wise kaumatua put it...

" It is not the fact of law I question, it is the quality "

Justice seems to be shaped by perspectives, opinion and interpretation of lore, law, regulations and previous cases that have determined acceptable outcomes.
Focus is critical. Having good lawyers is critical if you want to achieve your goals.

The question is 'What do you want? Why are you doing what you are doing? Know this before you start and remember the reasons as you face each decision that comes your way .

At all times, I was mindful when I started this paepae in January. of what was in the statement of claim, which was already siting in the HIgh Court and where I hoped the whole action would go.
Doing this sort of work is no walk in the park. It is a good idea to know why you are doing what you doing.

I was also mindful of the whakatauki that I had used to guide me in my decision making over the years but there is something different about this time.
It has a more significant kaupapa then the Sealords or the Tribunal hearings. They were real opportunities for choice that would lead to better growth for all. However,that did not happen. We are now living with the choices that were made - and we have to face that. We are where we are now, because we did what we did. This case in the High Court, is the outcome of what we did. It can never be said we did not have the opportunity to do things better. We had it all.

This time, we have 1 last shot at getting it back on track.

Those of us who live offshore, are directly affected by what happens back home as that is where our Treaty rights are determined.
Treaty rights fall out of our customary rights to a particular territory - your papakainga. Wharekauri, Chatham Islands is the papakainga o Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri, not Wellington, or Christchurch.
Those living in NZ could well be described as Urban Maori, a new term coined to describe the characteristics of a post modern Maori society. It is the phenomena of living away from our Rohe, for whatever reason.

What was happening to Ngati Mutunga, has to be brought back into balance so that the generations to come, can have a better life on that island. The one we are facing now, looks pretty grim. The issues still need to be sorted out in the weeks and months ahead but we cannot do that unless we talk together and then take action to do something about getting it back on track.

That starts at a whanau level. I have had my whakapapa questioned, my professional and commercial agenda challenged my personal, mental, emotional and interlectual capacities thrown at me - for what ? I am not the tribe.
I am just a member of Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri and I cannot change the past but I can do something about the future by doing something now, to try and make a difference for my mokopuna in years to come. So what legacy are you leaving for our mokopuna? for the Rohe? for the papakainga?

Mutunga has been split for too long and it has been to the advantage of everyone else and the dis-advantage of ourselves.

When Mutunga sorts it self out, the Islands will come right.

"When one tries to tame external enemies, they increase. Therefore, it is a practice of the wise to tame themselves"

There are all too many stories about tribal people all over the world, who have lost their land through government programs, legislation and regulations as their land becomes the target for economic wealth and development. A global economic crisis has changed the world in which we live and the old ways are falling over.

Where would you go , if government presented relocation to you as an option now in 2009?

These considerations were all part of the things that ran through my mind as I considered the case I had taken to the High Court.

Never has it been more important to make sure that those who are placed in charge of of your organisations, tell you what's going on. The collapse of companies and organisations world wide have occurred for the same reason as I am taking this case. There are rules and laws that have to be followed if you are elected as a representative of an Iwi organisation. If you don't know them , find out what they are. Ask for training so that you can learn what to do.

I have finally worked out how to load up documents and will post the Statement of Claim for the case next time.

In all the work and events over the past 2 years, my goal was

a) To stabilise and get the organisation working properly and effectively.
b) To get the tribe into one paddock to stabilse the Treaty settlements

How to do this without too much cost, added to the challenge.

I will tell you about the case next time.

cheers Evelyn