E ngā uri o Maniapoto,

The Maniapoto Māori Trust Board (the Board) has announced this morning that Mr R. Tiwha Bell, has stepped down from his role as Chairman.

Mr Bell has made an enormous contribution to the Board, and although he has stepped down, Mr Bell’s leadership and knowledge will continue to benefit Maniapoto as an ongoing trustee and Kaumātua Kaunihera o Maniapoto representative.

The Board acknowledge his service throughout the years, with over 14 years held as Chair.
Keith Ikin (formerly Deputy Chairman) has been confirmed as the new Chairman, with John Kaati (Ngā Tai o Kāwhia Regional Management Committee representative) named Deputy Chair.

“Tiwha has always put the Iwi first for many years and remained absolutely committed to achieving the best possible outcome for our people. The Board have been very fortunate and privileged to have had his wisdom and strength fill the role”, says Mr Ikin.
“Our immediate focus for Maniapoto continues to be mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on our people. We are proactively looking for economic recovery opportunities and partnerships with key groups across the rohe remains a key priority.
“The Board also remain committed to negotiating a comprehensive settlement of the Maniapoto Tiriti o Waitangi historical claims on behalf of Maniapoto.”

Ā muri kia mau ki tēnā, kia mau ki te kawau mārō, whanake ake, whanake ake

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSg1IN-HXlA

Koutou mā,
Following the above video kōrero from our Chair, Matua Tiwha, and CE, Bella, please see below details of Wellness Centres currently established within our rohe:

Maniapoto Whānau Ora Centre, 23 Taupiri Street, Te Kūiti (07 8783680)
Taumarunui Community Kōkiri Trust, 121 Hakiaha Street, Taumarunui (07 895 5919)

These wellness centres will be providing flu vaccinations for all aged 65 and over or those immuno-compromised. For those aged 55 and over, flu vaccinations are also available if you have underlying health conditions (such as diabetes or asthma).
We strongly encourage all of our kuia and koroua to get vaccinated if possible.

A Maniapoto Mobile Unit has also be travelling through our rohe to reach those in smaller communities. Another two locations have been added. Details are as follows:

Wednesday 15th April

Mōkau 

Tainui Wetere Domain

Mōkau

10am – 12.30pm

Pio Pio

Piopio Cosmopolitan Club Carpark,

42 Moa Street,

Pio Pio, 3912

1.45pm – 3.15pm

We hope to add a return visit to Taumarunui, details will be announced once confirmed.

If you have any further mobile unit enquiries please contact Kelly Tregoworth, kelly@maniapoto.co.nz
The service is free and only available for eligible whānau aged 55 and over.

If you know of kaumātua that may not be able to attend these locations on their own, please email us at iwiresponse@maniapoto.co.nz or call us on 0800 668 285 and we will do our best to support them.
For those whānau living in the Waikato rohe, information on their mobile unit, Te Hiwa can be found via their FaceBook page: link https://www.facebook.com/WaikatoTainu1/videos/698901994249220/

TIKANGA WHEN VISITING THE MOBILE CLINIC
Here are some guidelines when heading to the Mobile Unit.
Firstly, you must meet the eligibility criteria to visit the Mobile Clinic, if not, please remain at home. Secondly, anyone with flu-like symptoms and any visitors who display such symptoms must also remain at home. If you are asked to leave for any of the above reasons, please do as requested. Furthermore, if you are eligible and do attend, it is critical when visiting the Mobile Clinic that we maintain physical distancing. Again, we want to make sure that everyone is safe, including you.
When driving into the Vaccination location:
• Please drive slowly and carefully
• Please observe entry and exit flows
• Please do not get out of your vehicle unless instructed by staff
• Please be patient and mindful of other whānau who are present and those carrying out the vaccinations
During your visit to the Vaccination location:
• It is critical when visiting the Mobile Clinic that we maintain physical distancing.
• Be patient and kind. The wait time could be long.
• Please bring water and snacks to keep nourished and hydrated during the wait.
• Our staff will be dressed in protective gear. Please don’t be alarmed as this is a precaution for your safety and theirs.
• You will be greeted at the location by trained medical professionals at your car who will ask you a number of questions and ask you to sign a consent form.
• You will then be vaccinated.
• After your vaccination you will be asked to repark in a waiting area. You will need to wait for about 10-20 minutes to allow the team to check to be sure there are no side effects.
• You must then return to your home.
• Physical Distancing during this time is very important, therefore we ask that you do not gather or visit other whānau in other cars or enter the location buildings.

Further updates will continue to be provided as they are made available.

Mā te wāhi ngaro tātou e manaaki, e tiaki i roto i ngā āhuatanga o te wā.

The Maniapoto Maori Trust Board (MMTB) and Negotiator Terrence Mook Hohneck have confirmed that his fixed term contract has come to an end.

MMTB Chairman, Mr R.Tiwha Bell acknowledges the significant contribution Mook has made over the past three years. “We are very grateful to Mook for the skills and knowledge he has provided in order to progress the settlement of the Maniapoto Treaty Claims since Mandate was achieved in 2016. We wish Mook all the best in his future endeavours”.

Glenn Tootill will remain as Negotiator and continue to engage with the Crown, aiming to achieve a Deed of Settlement by the end of 2020.

E ngā uri o Maniapoto.
Chairman of the Maniapoto Maori Trust Board (MMTB), Tiwha Bell, has announced the appointment of Bella Takiari-Brame (Ngāti Rora, Ngāti Tumae, Ngāti Te Waha, Ngāti Waiora, Ngāti Takiari) to the role of Interim Chief Executive (CE) of the MMTB. This follows the departure of former CE Sonya Hetet earlier this month.
The Interim CE’s role will not only be to manage day-to-day operations of the Board but also ensure a robust process is carried out to appoint a CE who will lead the disestablishment of the Board as we transition towards the development of a new governance entity for Maniapoto
“We are pleased Bella has agreed to take on this role. She has been a MMTB Trustee since 2015 where her experience as a professional director and Chartered accountant has been a great asset to the Board” says Mr Bell.
Bella’s appointment will take effect from Moday 13 January 2020.

Ā muri kia mau ki tēnā, kia mau ki te kawau mārō, whanake ake, whanake ake

Maniapoto Māori Trust Board Chairman, R.Tiwha Bell, asks for whānau to remain calm in relation to the kaitaka styled cloak purportedly associated with Rewi Manga Maniapoto, that was to be auctioned in England, now cancelled.

Members of the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board were made aware of the cloak and discussed it with tribal knowledge holders. “We concluded that there was just not enough evidence to establish the provenance of the cloak in terms of its association with Rewi Maniapoto” said Mr Bell.

“The only evidence we have is a note which reads ‘Māori mat worn by the chief Rewi when peace was declared between Māori and Europeans after the battle of Ōrākau”. However Mr Bell questions the historical accuracy of the statement. “Peace was not made after the Battle of Ōrākau. Rewi and the other survivors escaped and retreated across the Pūniu River into Maniapoto territory where they set up an aukati – a line that was not to be crossed by Europeans.” It was not until some twenty odd years later that the aukati was lifted and a peace negotiated.

Maniapoto Historian, Dr Tom Roa says that the Battle of Ōrākau was New Zealand’s Thermopylae: “It was quickly romanticised by colonial writers of the day as this heroic but futile last stand by Rewi and his followers.” Dr Roa notes that Rewi Maniapoto and the Battle of Ōrākau were retold in stories, poems and even a movie, and while Maniapoto celebrate him as one of their most important 19th century leaders, Pākehā also developed a fascination with this great Māori hero. “I’m sure it would have been pretty popular to have something purported to belong to Rewi. Whether it was authentic or not is another matter.” Dr Roa believes more investigation needs to be undertaken to establish the provenance of the cloak noting the tribe has some leading experts in the art of weaving such garments.

6 September 2019

New place names restore Maniapoto history

Māori place names have been restored to the small central North Island town of Benneydale, and a nearby stretch of the North Island Main Trunk railway announced Minister for Land Information Eugenie Sage.

Benneydale has been changed to a dual name ‘Maniaiti / Benneydale’ and the main trunk railway between Te Awamutu and Taumarunui, is now named ‘Te Ara-o-Tūrongo’ following a request from Ngāti Maniapoto.

“I am pleased to restore official place names which bring to light our history for everyone to celebrate and enjoy. I accepted the recommendation of the New Zealand Geographic Board that there be the dual name Maniaiti / Benneydale in recognition of the unique histories of both names” said Eugenie Sage.

“The original Māori name, Maniaiti, has been maintained through oral tradition for the land on which the town lies and for the hill nearby. The name means ‘a small slide, slip’.”

Benneydale, home to nearly 200 people was established around 1940 to house workers mining coal discovered in the area. The name Benneydale is a combination of the surnames of the Under-Secretary for Mines, Charlie Benney, and the Mine Superintendent at the time, Tom Dale.

In 1885 Ngāti Maniapoto leaders gave land to the Crown to be used for the construction of the railway on Premier Robert Stout’s assurance that the section running through the district would be called ‘Tūrongo’, a significant tupuna (ancestor) of many Tainui groups. The name Te Ara-o-Tūrongo means ‘the track of Tūrongo’ or ‘Tūrongo’s pathway.’

Both name changes follow proposals to the New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa by Te Arawhiti – the Office of Māori Crown Relations (formerly Office of Treaty Settlements), on behalf of Treaty claimants Ngāti Maniapoto.

Ngāti Maniapoto and Ngāti Rereahu share mana whenua over this area.

Chairman for Te Maru o Rereahu Iwi Trust, Eric Crown, says Rereahu are very happy to hear that the New Zealand Geographic Board has accepted our historical record and the Minister has chosen to acknowledge the dual name of Maniaiti / Benneydale.

“It has always been important to Rereahu that our history and reo is maintained and enhanced not only for this generation, but for generations to come. This acknowledgement will not only allow a more complete understanding of our Rereahu Iwi history in the area but will also be an embodiment of the duality envisaged in the Treaty of Waitangi.”

Maniapoto Māori Trust Board Chairman, R Tiwha Bell, says that “the recognition of the original name Maniaiti reflects the wishes of kaumātua of Ngāti Rereahu who sought this outcome as part of the Treaty settlement negotiations with the Crown. We are pleased their wishes have been achieved.”

ENDS

Media Contact: Rick Zwaan 021 845 587 rick.zwaan@parliament.govt.nz  

Friday 2nd August 2019

Kei ngā whānau o Ihumātao te huarahi whakamua

The Maniapoto Māori Trust Board fully support the whānau of Ihumātao coming together to resolve a way forward for the lands of Ihumātao.

On Saturday 3rd August, Kīngi Tūheitia will be leading a delegation to Ihumātao. The purpose of this visit is to provide an opportunity for the King to listen to the views of the whānau.

We support Kīngi Tūheitia’s view that the resolution of these issues can only be resolved through the leadership and direction of the whānau of Ihumātao themselves.

Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa