Te Ururoa Flavell MP for Waiariki www.waiariki.maori.nz

Tēnā koutou katoa

The tribes of Tauranga are a real manaaki people. They are renown for their hospitality and the delicacies with which they feed their visitors and this has continued despite their having suffered the severe effects of warfare and confiscation over time.

Ngati Pukenga and Ngati Ranginui are iwi who derive their collective identity from the moana. They are known as ‘Tauranga Moana' at home and amongst other tribes.

Dredging the harbour

Their generosity was demonstrated by the honourable handing back of their maunga, Mauao (Mt Maunganui) to the city of Tauranga in 2006. But this act of good faith in the people of Tauranga has been abused and seabeds have been damaged through greed and neglect. These iwi can only reminisce on the abundant pipi beds and other plentiful seafood which enabled the iwi to care for visitors and to contribute to other tribes with reciprocal agreements around food.

To add salt to the wounds, the patience of the iwi is again being tested as the Port of Tauranga seeks to dredge the harbour to allow larger ships to enter and depart Tauranga. I understand the hearing of submissions on the dredging of Tauranga Harbour took place recently.

So what is at stake? Well, the remaining sources of food which have sustained generation after generation of people and added to the mana of the tribes, will be devastated by further dredging. The fragile ecosystem of the harbour is severely at risk. Some have argued there are other beds in the Tauranga area. That is simply not true. I understand most of those beds too are now gone.

Effect on the harbour

It amazes me so much land has been lost to the tribes around the harbour. Look only to Whareroa Marae, now stuck in the middle of the industrial area of the harbour. Consider the area between the marae and Mauao (Mt Maunganui), that is where the hapu of Ngai Te Rangi lived. If people can get a sense of the magnitude of the tribe's losses then you will probably understand why they are opposing the dredging of the harbour.

No one can deny some economic benefits have derived from the Port of Tauranga activities. Maori too have benefited from the port businesses. However, from what I can see, this current action is likely to be the final straw to 'break the camel's back'. My hope is the authorities work with iwi and not against them.

The iwi of Tauranga Moana have lived in the area for centuries and will remain there into the future. They have a vested interest in what happens in their area and it is their right to be consulted and listened to.

I welcome your feedback, phone 0508 924 274 email [email protected] or post to PO Box 12028 Rotorua 3045.