Te Ture Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua and Taranaki Maunga
Questions & Answers:
What does it mean now that Te Ture Whakatupua Mō Te Kāhui Tupua / Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Act has received royal assent?
It means the redress agreement between the eight iwi of Taranaki and the Crown is now law and will be implemented. Taranaki Maunga and its surrounding peaks are now recognised as a legal person, named Te Kāhui Tupua. Its interests, and its human face and voice, will be represented by an entity called Te Tōpuni Kōkōrangi, made up of iwi and Crown appointees.
The redress agreement addresses historic injustices and recognises the importance of Taranaki Maunga to tāngata whenua.
Names have changed; including Mount Taranaki or Mount Egmont to be removed and replaced with Taranaki Maunga. The national park is now called Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki. Surrounding peaks and 13 other place names have changed. Details of name changes can be found in the redress summary.
What does it mean for Te Kāhui Tupua to be recognised as a legal person?
Te Kāhui Tupua effectively owns itself, reflecting the view of Tūpuna Maunga as a living and indivisible whole that deserves respect and care. It has its own legal personality with corresponding rights, powers, duties and liabilities of a legal person.
Why does Te Kāhui Tupua have values?
Ngā Pou Whakatupua comprises the five intrinsic values representing the essence of Te Kāhui Tupua. These values are intended to reflect the cultural, spiritual, ancestral and historic relationship between Ngā Iwi of Taranaki and Te Kāhui Tupua.
What happens with the national park, Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki?
It remains a national park administered under the National Parks Act 1980. That includes principles, such as protection in perpetuity and public freedom of entry and access.
Some modifications have been made to accommodate the redress arrangements, including clear recognition of the rights of iwi and hapū with connection to Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki.
Who will manage Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki?
The Department of Conservation will retain operational management responsibility, including budgeting, operational planning and delivery within the national park. There will be opportunities for Ngā iwi o Taranaki to participate in agreed operational matters.
What happens next?
The human face and voice entity, Te Tōpuni Kōkōrangi, will be formed within 40 days of the legislation passing. Then it will start to carry out conservation related functions for Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki, such as strategy and planning, promoting the health and wellbeing of Te Kāhui Tupua, and speaking on behalf of Te Kāhui Tupua.
Can you explain the new entities?
Te Tōpuni Ngārahu Trust is the collective representative entity for Ngā Iwi o Taranaki. It is currently made up of the chairpersons of the eight iwi post-settlement governance entities (PSGEs) of Taranaki. The eight iwi PSGEs are the partners in Te Tōpuni Ngārahu Limited Partnership which implements operational tasks on behalf of the collective.
Taranaki Maunga Limited is the new company that will replace Taranaki Mounga Project, which will continue to be responsible for restoration and revitalisation work.
Te Tōpuni Kōkōrangi is the face and voice of Te Kāhui Tupua with four members appointed by the Minister of Conservation and four members appointed by Te Tōpuni Ngārahu. This entity has a number of statutory obligations as outlined in Te Ture Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Act, including overseeing the development of He Kawa Ora mō Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki/the National Park Management Plan. This has yet to be set up.
What changes for Taranaki Mounga Project?
Not much. The project is continuing its restoration work to revitalise Taranaki Maunga. That involves staff and rangers working with volunteers and community groups trapping predators, monitoring and protecting native species and helping grow populations of manu, such as kiwi and whio.
We will continue to partner with the Department of Conservation, who retain operational management responsibility for budgeting, operational planning and delivery within Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki.
Behind the scenes there will be some changes in the reporting structure and governance.
Is Taranaki Mounga Project changing its name?
Yes. There will be a slight name change, Mounga to Maunga, for consistency and as reflected in the redress agreement. The reference to Project will also be removed. It will be called Taranaki Maunga.
(Mounga is a historic dialect – both pronunciations and spelling refer to the mountain).
What happens to community and restoration groups partnering with Taranaki Maunga?
We will continue to work with volunteers and a wide range of community groups, iwi and hapū organisations around the mountain as well as those around the motu helping revitalise biodiversity.
In the next few months Taranaki Maunga staff will meet with groups it collaborates with to explain the new structure and talk about the operational plan.
What happens if I am a volunteer/business or community group managing a trap line?
Nothing will change. We hope you continue your fabulous work. Your contacts with Department of Conservation/Taranaki Maunga rangers will continue as before.
If you are interested in volunteering go to Get Involved – Taranaki Mounga – He Kawa Ora – Back to Life
Who are Taranaki Maunga kaimahi/staff employed by?
The small number of kaimahi will be employed by Te Tōpuni Ngārahu Limited Partnership. Te Tōpuni Ngārahu Limited Partnership will own the operational entity of Taranaki Maunga.
How will iwi and hapū engage with Taranaki Maunga?
We will continue with our existing relationships as well as strengthening ones that are at an early stage.
Taranaki Maunga kaimahi will work with iwi and hapū on restoration and wellbeing as it connects with particular rohe around the maunga.
Will cultural takes be allowed within Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki?
A Cultural Materials Plan that will be developed. Te Tōpuni Ngārahu Limited Partnership can support uri or Post-Settlement Governance Entities for non-commercial cultural takes, such as flora, dead protected wildlife and access to minerals, such as kōkōwai.
What will change for Te Papa Atawhai/Department of Conservation?
The operational work within the national park will stay the same. The way in which the national park management plan is prepared and approved will be different.
Another key difference is that revenue from concessions generated within Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki need to be applied to Te Kāhui Tupua and Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki, rather than into central DOC funding.
Who will develop the National Park Management Plan, He Kawa Ora mō Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki?
A planning team appointed by Te Tōpuni Ngārahu Trust and DOC will jointly develop the National Park Management plan, He Kawa Ora mō Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki. The plan sets out what activities can happen in Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki as well as setting out expected management outcomes. The planning team is yet to be appointed.
Te Tōpuni Kōkōrangi will oversee the development of He Kawa Ora mō Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki and Te Tōpuni Ngārahu will jointly approve it with the Minister of Conservation.
Where does funding come from for Taranaki Maunga?
Ongoing funding for Taranaki Maunga will be from partners delivering the programme as well as other investors who see Taranaki Maunga as a vehicle to deliver restoration initiatives.
Is Taranaki Maunga seeking external funding?
The project will continue to be co-funded, and there will be opportunities for future funders to contribute to Te Kāhui Tupua, like how the Next Foundation invested in Taranaki Mounga Project.
Will access to the national park, Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki, Taranaki Maunga and surrounding peaks change?
No. Public access remains the same and anyone can enjoy the park and its surrounds for inspiration, enjoyment and recreation.
What will happen to applications and current concessions within the park?
Existing concessions will continue, but concessionaires will need to demonstrate that the activities are aligned with Ngā Pou Whakatupua.
New concessions applications will also need to demonstrate that the activities are aligned with Ngā Pou Whakatupua, with these applications assessed and determined in accordance with the processes set out in Te Ture Whakatupua Mō Te Kāhui Tupua.
As a concession holder who do I contact to engage with?
The Department of Conservation, the same as previously.
Will there be new signage to reflect name changes, for example Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki replacing Egmont Park, Panitahi replacing Fanthams Peak and others?
Yes. The timing of replacement signage hasn’t been decided yet.