Posted: 12:35pm Fri 19 Jul, 2013

Elected members visit marae

Cr Bill Faulkner
Faulkners Corner
www.sunlive.co.nz

Elected members met with
tangata whenua collective members
on Waikari Marae at Matapihi last Friday.
This was an informal forum, which means it doesn't rank as an official meeting, so no decisions can be made. Even so, you get a black mark and get marked down as truant if you don't turn up! Can't figure that one. Nonetheless, a lot can be achieved with discussion and dialogue.
The presentation from iwi centred around Treaty of Waitangi settlements and how they saw Council's inevitable association and involvement.
The settlements are Government business. But Council is inevitably being dragged into the vortex as I have alluded to previously. One focus this time was on Mauao Recreation Reserve and iwi asked for title back to this land at the base of the Mount, containing the hot pools and holiday camp. They told us they had no commercial interest in the activities and wanted to enshrine them as they are. Iwi wanted to assist in management of all lands with cultural significance to achieve better outcomes and better management.
Lush land sales
If Council wanted to sell any such lands, iwi asked them to consider giving iwi first right of refusal. Elected members heard again about local Treaty of Waitangi grievances.
There seems little doubt British colonial rule and policy was very naughty to say the least. It might be appropriate from what we have been told for the British Government to step up to the mark with their taxpayers' cheque book to help pay reparations instead of leaving it all to NZ taxpayers.
It was a relief to hear tangata whenua committee chairman Huikakahu Kawe say that these settlements would be 'totally end of the grievance”.
For everyone's sake that needs to happen in my view. But another iwi speaker spoke of the settlements being only 1 per cent of what was taken and that the media won't promote or publicise this fact.
Except Sun Media and this column. I've noted this before to highlight my concern that these settlements might be a catalyst for future generations of dissidents who might see an open cheque book. Full and final settlements have to mean just that.
At this forum meeting new CEO Gerry Poole was welcomed onto the marae and in his brief address he informed those present of the way he saw things for Tauranga going forward and he hoped to confirm this week a new four and a half star 180 room hotel on the TV3 site in Durham Street opposite Baycourt.
This was news to some of us who are not on the subcommittee negotiating. It is good news and an indication of our economy moving out of the downturn.
Mayoral considerations
Nominations for council election open today. I will be standing again for Council at large. I'm keeping my options open as to whether I'll nominate for Mayoralty. There are a number of factors to consider with that one. First, it's relatively difficult to unseat a sitting mayor. Not impossible, but difficult! But it's important for there to be a viable option candidate in the event of something untoward happening in the three months' run up to the election. Say, for example, a complete twit runs against the Mayor of Auckland. And if there were only the two candidates and the current Mayor was incapacitated then the twit gets to be the Mayor. And this election Government has handed far more power to the Mayor.
In my opinion to be effective any Mayor must have prior Council experience.
Another hoary old chestnut issue is raising its head again: the dreaded F word. Yes fluoride in the water supply gets raised nationally at election time by supporters mainly through the public health sector. I'm not speaking for or against this. Previously Council ran a referendum and fluoride was rejected. Many years ago when the debate was raging the Mayor of the day wrote to the Government seeking total indemnity from Government for Council in the event of any legal consequences Council might be open to with fluoridation. As I recall it, the reply was a brief curt rejection.
Rena movements
I got cut off at the knees last week and my report on the Rena presentation had to be left out due to pressure on space. Rena owner and insurance representatives have really upped their game and are now regularly attending the Projects and Monitoring committee to keep everyone up to date with what's going on out at Astrolabe Reef.
The wreck is now not visible above water.
They are bringing a heavy lift barge from Singapore to lift the bridge/accommodation structure off the hull wreck. The bridge will be cut off in two sections of 375 tonnes each using huge three inch studded link chain used in a chainsaw like motion. Twelve tonnes pull one way and four tonnes the other for those interested in the technical details. Each cut will only take about 12 hours. We were informed the owners and insurers are considering options for the rest of the wreck including applying for resource consent to leave the wreck there.
That would be a great pity for the once pristine Astrolabe Reef. Someone asked if it was proposed to put a light on the reef and the presenter replied that it wasn't and that 'everyone knew where Astrolabe was”.
Everyone except the Navigation Officer and Master of Rena. A light wouldn't survive one good easterly blow out there.
It's a wild bit of ocean in rough conditions. Much better to do your navigation properly, including not relying on electronic devices. Before radar and GPS no ship hit this underwater reef since D'urmont D'urville hit it in the French navy ship Astrolabe on February 16 1827.
He had no charts and no way of knowing it was there.
This week's mindbender –
'We don't like their sound and guitar music is on the way out.” – Decca Recording Co rejecting the Beatles in 1962.

Elected members met with tangata whenua collective members on Waikari Marae at Matapihi last Friday.

This was an informal forum, which means it doesn't rank as an official meeting, so no decisions can be made. Even so, you get a black mark and get marked down as truant if you don't turn up! Can't figure that one. Nonetheless, a lot can be achieved with discussion and dialogue.

The presentation from iwi centred around Treaty of Waitangi settlements and how they saw Council's inevitable association and involvement.

The settlements are Government business. But Council is inevitably being dragged into the vortex as I have alluded to previously. One focus this time was on Mauao Recreation Reserve and iwi asked for title back to this land at the base of the Mount, containing the hot pools and holiday camp. They told us they had no commercial interest in the activities and wanted to enshrine them as they are. Iwi wanted to assist in management of all lands with cultural significance to achieve better outcomes and better management.

Lush land sales
If Council wanted to sell any such lands, iwi asked them to consider giving iwi first right of refusal. Elected members heard again about local Treaty of Waitangi grievances.

There seems little doubt British colonial rule and policy was very naughty to say the least. It might be appropriate from what we have been told for the British Government to step up to the mark with their taxpayers' cheque book to help pay reparations instead of leaving it all to NZ taxpayers.

It was a relief to hear tangata whenua committee chairman Huikakahu Kawe say that these settlements would be 'totally end of the grievance”.

For everyone's sake that needs to happen in my view. But another iwi speaker spoke of the settlements being only 1 per cent of what was taken and that the media won't promote or publicise this fact.

Except Sun Media and this column. I've noted this before to highlight my concern that these settlements might be a catalyst for future generations of dissidents who might see an open cheque book. Full and final settlements have to mean just that.

At this forum meeting new CEO Gerry Poole was welcomed onto the marae and in his brief address he informed those present of the way he saw things for Tauranga going forward and he hoped to confirm this week a new four and a half star 180 room hotel on the TV3 site in Durham Street opposite Baycourt.

This was news to some of us who are not on the subcommittee negotiating. It is good news and an indication of our economy moving out of the downturn.

Mayoral considerations
Nominations for council election open today. I will be standing again for Council at large. I'm keeping my options open as to whether I'll nominate for Mayoralty. There are a number of factors to consider with that one. First, it's relatively difficult to unseat a sitting mayor. Not impossible, but difficult! But it's important for there to be a viable option candidate in the event of something untoward happening in the three months' run up to the election. Say, for example, a complete twit runs against the Mayor of Auckland. And if there were only the two candidates and the current Mayor was incapacitated then the twit gets to be the Mayor. And this election Government has handed far more power to the Mayor.

In my opinion to be effective any Mayor must have prior Council experience.

Another hoary old chestnut issue is raising its head again: the dreaded F word. Yes fluoride in the water supply gets raised nationally at election time by supporters mainly through the public health sector. I'm not speaking for or against this. Previously Council ran a referendum and fluoride was rejected. Many years ago when the debate was raging the Mayor of the day wrote to the Government seeking total indemnity from Government for Council in the event of any legal consequences Council might be open to with fluoridation. As I recall it, the reply was a brief curt rejection.

Rena movements
I got cut off at the knees last week and my report on the Rena presentation had to be left out due to pressure on space. Rena owner and insurance representatives have really upped their game and are now regularly attending the Projects and Monitoring committee to keep everyone up to date with what's going on out at Astrolabe Reef.

The wreck is now not visible above water.

They are bringing a heavy lift barge from Singapore to lift the bridge/accommodation structure off the hull wreck. The bridge will be cut off in two sections of 375 tonnes each using huge three inch studded link chain used in a chainsaw like motion. Twelve tonnes pull one way and four tonnes the other for those interested in the technical details. Each cut will only take about 12 hours. We were informed the owners and insurers are considering options for the rest of the wreck including applying for resource consent to leave the wreck there.

That would be a great pity for the once pristine Astrolabe Reef. Someone asked if it was proposed to put a light on the reef and the presenter replied that it wasn't and that 'everyone knew where Astrolabe was”.

Everyone except the Navigation Officer and Master of Rena. A light wouldn't survive one good easterly blow out there.

It's a wild bit of ocean in rough conditions. Much better to do your navigation properly, including not relying on electronic devices. Before radar and GPS no ship hit this underwater reef since D'urmont D'urville hit it in the French navy ship Astrolabe on February 16 1827.

He had no charts and no way of knowing it was there.

This week's mindbender –

'We don't like their sound and guitar music is on the way out.” – Decca Recording Co rejecting the Beatles in 1962.

You may also like....