Iwi and Hapū
Mai i Waitapu ki Rangataua, mai i Mīria-te-kākara ki Whitireia, whakawhitia Te Moana o Raukawa, ki Wairau, ki Whakatū.
The ART (Āti Awa, Toa, Raukawa) Confederation has a population of about 40,000 that is inclusive regardless of district boundaries. Traditionally all these groups are coastal occupiers and have pa sites, natural features, urupa, and other sites of significance that are deeply ingrained and important to cultural linkages.
Te Whakaminenga o Kāpiti
Te Whakaminenga o Kāpiti is one of the longest lasting partnerships between tangata whenua and Local Government in New Zealand. The partners are the Kāpiti Coast District Council and the mana whenua (people with ‘authority over the land’) on the Kāpiti Coast: Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga and Ngāti Toarangatira. Te Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai have a direct partnership with Kāpiti Coast District Council.
The goal of Te Whakaminenga o Kāpiti is:
To forge a relationship of mutual benefit between the Kāpiti Coast District Council and the tangata whenua that will develop into an effective and meaningful partnership.
While Te Whakaminenga o Kāpiti has primarily been involved with issues to do with resource management, it has also worked, particularly in more recent years, to ensure that the Māori World view is better represented and understood in the broader community. From the beginning Te Whakaminenga o Kāpiti has focused on harmonising different cultural attitudes to resources and solve local issues according to national legislation.
Te Whakaminenga o Kāpiti stems from two core principles of the Treaty of Waitangi as identified and defined by the Court of Appeal and the Waitangi Tribunal. The first principle, ‘partnership’, obliges both parties ‘to act reasonably, honourably and in good faith’. For that, consultation is vital. The second principle, ‘active protection’, requires the Crown to protect Māori in the use of their lands and waters to the fullest extent practicable.
Te Whakaminenga o Kāpiti first met on 8 March 1994. As the District Council’s Iwi Consultation Group, the three iwi used ‘Te Whakaminenga’, meaning ‘The Confederation’, to describe themselves, but the addition ‘o Kāpiti’ (of Kāpiti) was designed to include the Kāpiti Coast District Council.
In 1994, the group developed and signed a Memorandum of Partnership; this is the primary guide for the group’s general conduct and purpose. For its part Te Whakaminenga o Kāpiti guides the Council relationship with iwi, although where appropriate the Council undertakes direct consultation with iwi.
Iwi partnership on the Takutai Kāpiti Project
The Takutai Kāpiti project is committed to iwi partnerships, to ensure the collective environmental vision, values and position inherited and held by the iwi of Kāpiti are woven through the mahere (plan).
The proposal of a dedicated ART Confederation Coastal Advisory Group (ARTCAG) has been finalised for phase one: launching and co-design the project and community process.
The Takutai Kāpiti Summit brought together a wide range of voices recognising the values that indigenous people have concerning the coastline and the impacts changing weather patterns will have on the environment, people and the way we behave.
We acknowledge that Māori have tikanga and know that meaningful, genuine dialogue holds the key to our district being able to prepare for our future.
We look forward to building a stronger Kāpiti together.
Iwi and Hapū within the Kāpiti Coast District
- Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga
- Ngāti Huia ki Katihiku
- Ngāti Kapumanawawhiti
- Ngāti Koroki
- Ngāti Maiotaki
- Ngāti Pare
Iwi and Hapū within Waikanae, Paekākāriki, Porirua and Wellington
- Te Āti Awa ki Whakarongotai
- Ngāti Haumia
- Ngāti Toa Rangatira
Four Key Principles
Tangata whenua have based their vision on four key principles:
Whakawhanaugatanga / Manaakitanga – the marae is our principal home which ties us to the land and is the physical embodiment of our ancestors.
Te Reo – It is the language of tangata whenua through which tikanga is conveyed and one of the official languages of our country.
Kotahitanga – Working together we can ensure our districts cultural development, health, education and economy flourish.
Tino Rangatiratanga – to exercise self-determination and self-governance with regard to all tribal matters.
Manaaki whenua, Manaaki Tangata, Haere Whakamua
Care for the land, care for the people, move forward together
“As kaitiaki and tangata whenua of the district, our focus is on ensuring that our footsteps in the environment have a positive influence for our future generations. Our traditional practice of kaitiakitanga has developed from centuries of observation and experience and knowledge handed down from our ancestors.”
– Rupene Waaka
