Posted: 03:00pm Sat 11 Dec, 2021
Coromandel landowners band together
Thames-Coromandel District Council. Photo: Sally Steedman
Māori landowners are banding together to develop a large block of land in Kennedy Bay, Coromandel.
The area or rohe of Harataunga lies on the eastern tip of the Coromandel Peninsula and is largely home to Ngāti Porou ki Harataunga ngā Hapū e Toru.
Located in this tranquil seaside settlement of Kennedy Bay, lies 11,500 hectares of underutilised and undeveloped whenua, which is recovering from deforestation.
In 2019, Māori landowners from three separate blocks , began work with Te Puni Kokiri's Whenua Māori Service, who helped them to form the Harataunga Collective. The Collective was set up with the purpose of utilising their indigenous forest for future biodiversity and productivity work.
Harataunga Collective's Project Co-ordinator Sally Steedman says the collective has ‘big dreams' for their whenua.
"We are determined to establish papakāinga, horticulture, agriculture, reclamation of wetlands and other industries that have a low environmental impact, which will allow our whānau to be fed, sheltered and prosperous as we care for this whenua," says Sally.
With support through the Whenua Māori Fund, the Harataunga Collective are now undertaking land-use assessments, feasibility studies and a ten-year staged development plan to determine options for land use to create multiple income streams whilst maintaining the biodiversity of their whenua.
"Although COVID-19 has stalled much of our mahi, we're so grateful the fund has enabled us to get the ball rolling," says Sally.
Sally says they have now begun working with BECA as their lead technical consultants and advisors to provide oversight and develop their master plan.
"Te Puni Kokiri has not just helped us with the putea to get the project underway, I also want to acknowledge the advisors who have been working with us to help realise our potential," says Sally.
Te Puni Kokiri's Regional Advisor Kere Hauraki and former Advisors Shontelle Bishara and Ben Aves have been working alongside the Harataunga Collective, connecting them with funding streams and agencies as well as helping them to move the project forward.
"We are pleased to support the Harataunga Collective to achieve their cultural, social and economic aspirations through their whenua," says Kere.
"Ultimately, this collective is unique as they represent a large number of Māori landowners who are all working towards the same vision - to provide homes, mahi while caring for the land, and enable more whānau to return home and thrive on their whenua," says Kere.
1 comment
At last
Posted on 12-12-2021 09:45 | By Let's get real
The best way to help Maori is to inspire them to help themselves... A hand up, Not a hand out. And if it's working for one or two, what excuse is there for others. I don't imagine that there's anywhere near the same benefits being gathered from the racecourse and golf course for Ngai Tamarawaho. Housing before hobbies.
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