•     Scrutinise appointment criteria to iwi representation on Council.”

41.         Again, the Marutūāhu are not recognised as tāngata whenua in the Tauranga Moana Inquiry district. At best, we belong “around Waihi Beach”.

42.         This is in stark contrast to other councils who have established tāngata whenua fora which include the Marutūāhu, for example, Auckland City Council, Matamata - Piako District Council and Hauraki District Council. Thames Coromandel District Council are in the process of formulating such a forum.

(b)          Statutory instruments

43.         The significant status of statutory instruments under the Resource Management Act 1991 is well known.²⁸ Here is a summary of some examples of Marutūāhu recognition in various statutory instruments:

>            WAIKATO REGION²⁹

“2 Matters of Significance to Maori

2.2   Iwi in the Waikato Region

2.2.1  The Iwi of Hauraki

...

Iwi of Hauraki descended from the Tainui waka are collectively known as the Marutūāhu Confederation and comprise Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Whanaunga, Ngāti Tamaterā and Ngati Pāoa. The rohe of Marutūāhu stretches from Matakana, near Tauranga in the South to Matakana, near Leigh in the North.

Known by the iwi of Hauraki as Te Tara o te Whai’ or ‘the barb of the stingray’, the Coromandel Peninsula extends northwards supported by the calm waters of Tikapa Moana on the west and the tumultuous seascape of Te Tai Tamawahine on the east. It is also referred to as a waka, which extends from Moehau in the north to Te Aroha in the south, whose ribs are the rivers that flow from the mountains and empty into the estuaries and harbours below. The ancient traditions serve to illustrate the importance of the coast to Hauraki and the manner in which its features took on personifications of great reverence.

...

2.2.1.2   Recognition

Environment Waikato recognises and acknowledges that the iwi of Hauraki are tāngata whenua of the Coromandel Peninsula and Hauraki area, and recognises and acknowledges that the physical, spiritual, cultural, social and economic well-being of the iwi of Hauraki is dependent upon the well-being of their resources and upon their ability

²⁸                 See, eg section 104 of the RMA.

²⁹                 An extract from the Waikato Regional Coastal Plan.