The Taupō District Council and Ngāti Tūrangitukua Mana Whakahono ā Rohe

Taupō District Council and Ngāti Tūrangitukua, the post-settlement entity established by Ngāti Tūwharetoa hapū, established an historic agreement in 2022 to jointly govern Tūrangi.

Mana Whakahono ā Rohe is a tool provided for under the RMA, designed to enable tangata whenua and local authorities to discuss and record how they will work together on resource management matters including joint decision making. This was the starting point that enabled Council and Ngāti Tūrangitukua to negotiate a much bolder partnership agreement. This Mana Whakahono covers matters much wider than the RMA, including the establishment of the Tūrangi Co-Governance Committee made up of equal membership from Council and Ngāti Tūrangitukua. It was recognised nationally at the Taituarā Excellence Awards in 2022 for its broad reaching scope.

When the agreement was announced, Tina Porou, Ngāti Tūrangitukua spokesperson, said “It reflects the importance of mana whenua, and the whānau who have lived in this rohe for 1,000 years, but it also acknowledges and respects our community who have joined us.”

The Tūrangi Co-Governance Committee is made up of four members elected by Ngāti Tūrangitukua and four members appointed by Council, one of whom is the Mayor. The committee is responsible for making decisions and overseeing the implementation of a wide range of RMA, LGA, Reserves Act and other matters within the Ngāti Tūrangitukua rohe. The Committee meets monthly, and meetings include time set aside for a public forum

The Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreement continues to guide a positive working partnership between the Taupō District Council and Ngāti Tūrangitukua, and enables the integration of mana whenua aspirations and Mātauranga Māori into community planning, co-design of community projects, facilities, and sustainable community outcomes. The agreement reflects the fact that, as well as being kaitiaki, the hapū is a significant landowner in Tūrangi – and much of the Tūrangi township’s community amenities and water infrastructure is located on reserves owned by Ngāti Tūrangitukua.