Trustee meeting to be held 24 November 2012

Wednesday 17 October 2012 Update

First apologies for the formatting of the last few posts. It all looks nicely set out in paragraphs when I am composing them and then it squashes all together when I go to save them. Still trying to fix it. Thank you for your feedback to this point. It was part of the reason I started this blog nearly three years ago. This whole current scenario was always going to come out into the open at some point and I wanted to be transparent in everything I did. I have nothing to hide. I heard the bach-owners perspectives and was grateful they shared their stories and traditions of the beach. Giving the upmost respect, it was weird that a group of people were enjoying the area even if I wasn't. Like most things, there are always two sides to a story. My Whanau never visited that beach when we were young. I always knew about the area but we never went there...for one reason...those baches ! They represented what was wrong in todays society as far as we were concerned. A culture of a past era where a minority thought it is fine to build on private land they do not own. We are certainly not the first to go through this however we are probably one of the last. Worse still is we have to use our own money to achieve it. I had no choice but to get involved because leaving it to the next generation would make the whole situation even more difficult to resolve. Just a couple of comments about the feedback provided thus far. First, if you are a beneficiary of this land and want any financial information then contact myself directly and I am happy to provide it. To all the other comments posted - Interesting viewpoints however read the Whanganui Chronicle in the next day or so...hopefully it clears up a few issues for you. To conclude, my first post in January 2012 prophetically ended with the sentence "...There is a rumbling on the horizon and its been slowly biding its time. Watching and waiting"...Guess what?!

"The article"

http://www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz/news/bach-battle/1543004/ --- A dispute between landowners at the Whangaehu River mouth and a group of evicted bach owners who claim they have rights to be there could be headed to court. Rakautaua Trust 9 chairman Casey Paki said the landowners wanted to return to their land. The trust desired a peaceful solution and had tried to accommodate the bach owners, who it said had been squatting on the land for many years. The trust had given them 100 days to vacate and remove their dwellings. Two bach owners told the Chronicle they were unhappy with the notice. Steve Baron, of Wellington, said his family had occupied the land at the river mouth for 100 years. They were originally given permission by a farmer to build a bach. Mr Baron said they were prepared to fight their eviction in court. He added that the original bach owners signed a memorandum of understanding with the trust that they would have a lifetime right to occupy, but that was now being ignored. However, Rakautaua 9 Trust trustee and beneficiary Tohe Manawaroa-Te Awe Awe, who grew up at Whangaehu, said that in 1946 there was only a lean-to his family used when they went down to fish. Mr Paki said the memorandum the people signed was for those individuals, and it stated that on the death of that occupier, the dwelling would not pass to "next of kin or otherwise". Any other person had to apply in writing to the trust. The original intention of the memorandum was that the trust or the bach occupiers had to give 21 days to the other party if the bach owners were leaving or being given notice to vacate. Mr Paki said the trust felt that was unreasonable, so extended the notice to 100 days. As well, each bach dweller was to pay a koha for being there, but Mr Manawaroa-Te Awe Awe said it had been a battle getting some owners to come up with the money. Another issue for the trust was that QV was looking to re-rate the land because of the change of use. Rangitikei District Council environmental services team leader Stephen Costelloe said that when QV became involved the council had to also look at the dwellings, and wrote to the trust outlining issues around building and health and safety compliances under the Resource Management Act. Mr Paki said the trust sent a copy of the letter in April to the owners of 13 dwellings, with four weeks to provide feedback. Only two of them had replied. "There are 1100 beneficiaries to this land and we have to comply with legislation. The trust is just doing its job, but the beneficiaries want their land back," Mr Paki said.

Whanganui Chronicle front page today

Have been keeping things quiet lately on purpose with a lot of things going on in the background...until today. The article in the paper today was not of our doing. The bach-owners complained to the Chronicle today...not the Trust. There are two comments that one of the bachowners Mr Baron makes in the article which I will clear up. His first was that his family have been there for over one hundred years. Whanau have an urupa two kilometres from the beach which goes back further than that. Another view would be to think "they have been taking advantage of the situation for over a 100 years". Unfortunately his comment saying that they got permission from a farmer to build there is probably correct. The answer though is that the farmer has NEVER owned it. The bach-owners know they have been living on borrowed time for years and I totally empathise. There have been generations coming out and enjoying the white-baiting, the fishing, the isolation, the environment. It is a beautiful beach and I wouldn't want to go either if in the same position. However, we cannot cater to a small minority who are not beneficiaries, whose dwellings do not meet building code compliance and where they do not own the land. It is wrong. If the situation was reversed and we were building a bach on their beach I doubt very much the outcome would be any different. I advised some of them that we would invite them in for discussions once the Trust was in a position to move forward. Their response is to organise a meeting between themselves with a view to take us to Court. Really?! We are not stopping anyone from using the beach. We would never stop anyone using and enjoying the area. This could have been done with honour, respect and dignity... My opening line said I had been quiet lately. The article today will ensure that I cannot keep quiet any longer.

Vector Transmission Pipeline

Vector sent the Trust some information relating to the pipeline running through the middle of the property. Nice picture but somewhat amused as to whose idea it was in the first place to put it through the middle of a Maori-owned beach property...

Update 31 July 2012

Haven't said anything for a little bit but there are a few things going on in the background. * More dialogue with the Te Araroa Trust with things progressing ever so slightly. Haven't been involved myself (other trustees attending) but am appreciating being kept informed. * Lease being sorted. * Trust meeting processes starting to take shape. Certainly not finished...but started. * Baches situation hopefully will be progressed soon. Most stakeholders have had an opportunity to provide input and we are considereing options. * In discussions with different parties concerning land use options on under-utilised parts of the property. * Vector provided a free aerial map of the property showing the gas pipe-line. When you see it you have to question the wisdom of the "powers that be" of the time authorising it. "Do we just accept it?" * Have heard about a multi-national company exploring the West Coast of the North Island from South Taranaki to the Rangitikei River for ironsands. Looks like they are further down the track than anticipated. More research required before making any further comments. Things will certainly get interesting over the next few months and years...

Beach

Went out to the beach on Friday 25 May for a look around. Absolutely amazing. In the 3 months I last went out people have managed to build a new bach, a new caravan has popped up...and a bach has had a make-over...with no permission. Like I said "Absolutely amazing!!!"

Te Araroa - The Long Pathway

Thought I should make mention of this. We have been contacted by the Te Araroa Trust who want to include the area as part of the 3000km National walkway from Cape Reinga to the Bluff. The idea is that the trail come down the Whanganui River out the airport. From there it generally follows the beach down to the Whangaehu River. There is a feasibility study on what will happen from there with various bridge and route options but these are still to be finalised. The concept may or may not impact on us and will follow with interest.

Trust meeting 10am Saturday 26 May Wanganui RSA

Comments from Meeting 25 February 2012 Whangaehu Marae

Note: These comments are my own and not confirmed by the Trust yet

Attended by:
Aunt Lil Manawaroa
Tohe Manawaroa-Aweawe
Albert Thompson
Mary Wakefield
Mary Topine
Karen Boyce
Mary Topine
Davey Paki
Casey Paki

Nephew Nahona Paki (observer)

No apologies

-----

Voted and confirmed following positions:

Casey Paki - Chairman
Davey Paki - Deputy
Secretary - Mary Wakefield
Treasurer - Karen Boyce

More details of meeting to follow...

Pics of section

A map provided by the Rangitikei District Council of the paper-road on the property.

You can see that some of the baches are inside the council boundaries.



This pic shows going through the gate where the section starts and then you turn hard left and go along the fence line about 100 metres.

The view looks back to the gate. You can see the river in the background and the stockyards to the right by the trees.



Gate where section starts

Quick rundown of meeting weekend

Friday

* Saw the Westpac Bank - Organised bank statements to do tax year ending 31 March 2011. Also confirmed process to change bank account signatories
* Saw Murray Carey, the accountant - Determined what was needed to do our tax for the year ending 31 March 2011. Will follow up at Trust meeting
* Went on tour of the section with Tohe Manawaroa-Te Aweawe (fellow trustee) and Bob Craig (farmer with grazing lease on the property). A lot bigger than I imagined and a lot of fun on the back of a quad bike. Took a few pics and will post some when I can.
* Tohe and I discussed the beach with the environmental services team leader of the Rangitikei District Council - couldn't say too much as the Trust had not had an opportunity to meet yet.

A long day with a lot achieved and am happy with how things went.

Details of the main meeting on Saturday to follow...

Rakautaua No 9 Trust meeting Saturday 25th February, 11am, Whangaehu Marae

Follow up to Maori Land Court Meeting 22 November

The Trust had an appointment at the Aotea Maori Land Court this day to change and appoint trustees as well as review it.

This meeting was called at the Whanganui RSA at 1pm to discuss any matters arising from it.

Matters arising from Maori Land Court meeting

Appoint a Deputy Chairperson

The Maori Land Court judge thought it prudent that the Trust consider appointing a Deputy in the absence of the Chairperson being available. The Chairperson Waru Allen had sent his apologies due to illness.

The matter was put before the Trustees and determined that a Deputy be appointed. Nominations were called for the position.

A Thompson nominated C Paki. T Manawaroa – Te Aweawe seconded it.

L Manawaroa nominated D Paki. D Paki replied he would rather be the guy doing the ‘mahi’ in the background but would accept the position if nominated.

It was put to a vote and a motion passed that C Paki be appointed Deputy Chairman.

Baches

During Court proceedings C Paki mentioned to the Judge that the Trust was in good shape however the “baches situation” was a concern to everyone.

A number of parties had different views on what should happen to the baches on the property. All original bach-holders signed Memorandum of Understanding forms and one of the main points was that they applied to the original owners with life-time interests only. This was confirmed by L Manawaroa.

The Judge agreed that there were a variety of issues that needed to be resolved and asked the Trust to provide a progress report to him within six months.

It was agreed that the Trust would debate the matter at our next meeting.

Other business

Expenses

C Paki asked if the Trust could reimburse his travel costs from Auckland to attend Trust meetings.

He had spent close on $1000 this year on travel to attend meetings and did not want to bear the burden alone. L Manawaroa disagreed saying she would prefer local people as costs would be less and attendance could be an issue. D Paki asked whether any trustees were receiving fees. No-one could answer properly yes or no.

It was ascertained that C Paki wanted to be involved with helping progress the Trust forward and that it was a fair and reasonable request.

It was put to a vote and a motion passed that C Paki be reimbursed all past and current travel costs to attend Trust meetings.

Next Meeting

We discussed possible dates for our next meeting.

Still to be determined.

Aotea Maori Land Court meeting 22 November 2011

The Trust had an appointment at the Aotea Maori Land Court this day to change and appoint trustees as well as review it.

Trustees replaced:
* Frances Huwyler (resigned)
* Anita Seymour (non attendance)
* Arapiu (non attendance)
* Nahona Paki (deceased)
* Whare Te Maari (deceased)

Trustees re-confirmed

* Waru Allen (gave apologies due to illness)
* Mary Ruihi Smith Topine (need to confirm)
* Ruihi Manawaroa (Aunty Lil)
* Mary Wakefield

New Trustees

* Tohe Manawaroa-Te Aweawe
* Casey Patena Mariu Paki
* Albert Rongonui Thompson
* Karen Ann Boyce
* Davey Maanuera Paki

The Court then opened the floor to see if anyone had anything to say.

I brought up the issue of Whanau being unhappy with people having baches on the property. A debate ensued with the result being that the Court wanted a progress report in six months. It was something that needed to be clarified so everyone knew where they stood.

The Court then suggested that the Trust elect a deputy chairperson if the chairman was unwell or in hospital regularly.

The Court then thanked everyone for their time and looked forward to our report in six months