Environmental Strategy

Environmental Policy Document

As Chairman of the Te Roroa Whatu Ora Trust (TRWOT) I am proud to present our Environmental Policy Document on behalf of the Iwi of Te Roroa. To obtain a copy of this document please contact us.

For the past several years Te Roroa have, as the recognised Kaitiaki of our rohe, been involved in a wide range of environmental management and development issues and have, during that time, undertaken research with several different organisations.

The past century has seen our rohe change more dramatically than it ever has before (e.g. new settlements, modern agricultural practices, land drainage, the conversion of native forest to pines and farms, etc). This generation, possibly more so than any other, faces critical choices over the relationship that Te Roroa and all those who now live within and interact with our rohe have with our environment and natural resources. We live in an era of climate change, spiralling energy costs, accelerated biodiversity loss and yet an increasing awareness that all our futures are intimately connected with how we manage decision-making over current and future environmental management. Te Roroa has always tried to play a constructive leadership role in this field.

It has become evident that we must now implement sound strategies and policies to ensure that the environmental, ecological, historic, cultural and spiritual resources and taonga of Te Roroa are managed in a sustainable manner that is in accord with our tikanga. Protocols and other instruments negotiated between the Iwi and the Crown during the Treaty claim settlement process are intended to assist in that regard.

This Environmental Policy Document fulfils a milestone identified during the Iwi Strategic Plan consultation process that was undertaken in 2001/2 and will be central to our developing relationships with the regional, territorial and other statutory authorities (e.g. NRC, FNDC, KDC, DoC). It will have particular relevance in respect of the current KDC District Plan and Northland Conservation Management Strategy Reviews.

The draft has been prepared by a working party of TRWOT Board members and now needs to be considered carefully by both the Iwi and our key partners.

The document will be released to iwi and key stake holders for 1 month for written submissions, following which the draft will be updated and treated as an operational draft until Matariki 2009 pending final confirmation.

We will need to focus heavily on the need to review, renew and re-strengthen the various relationships that are essential to us achieving wise Kaitiakitanga to ensure that future generations inherit a rohe rich with natural and physical wealth and opportunity. To be good Kaitiaki is a responsibility not a right. It is a responsibility that we as Te Roroa are born with and one where the right answers for the future are best found by first understanding the knowledge and wisdom left to us by our tupuna.

(To obtain a copy of this document please contact us)

Alex Nathan
Chairman