Council to sign historic agreement

The signing of an historic Joint Management Agreement (JMA) between Gisborne District Council and Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou will take place at Tikapa Marae on Saturday 7 November at 10am.

The agreement will be signed by His Worship the Mayor Meng Foon and Chief Executive Judy Campbell on behalf of Council and by Board Chairman Selwyn Parata and Chief Executive Herewini Te Koha on behalf of Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou.

“Ngati Porou have always sought an active role in the management of natural resources within their rohe,” says Mayor Meng Foon

“With this agreement and effective implementation of it, that’s a reality now.”

The JMA is the first of its kind in New Zealand as it’s the first time section 36B of the Resource Management Act (RMA) 1991 has been used, which gives regional councils the ability to jointly manage natural resources with an iwi authority.

The JMA includes all land and water resources within or affecting the Waiapu Catchment.

“It builds on the work of the existing Waiapu Kōkā Hūhua partnership between the Council, Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou and the Ministry of Primary Industries to restore the Waiapu Catchment,” says Mayor Foon.

“We are privileged to now be able to jointly share the functions, powers and duties under the RMA with Ngati Porou as kaitiaki of the Waiapu.”

A Waiapu Catchment Plan for managing freshwater will be co-developed under this agreement.

A copy of the signed Joint Management Agreement will be available on Council’s website from Wednesday 11 November.

ENDS

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