25 August 2025
Media Release
Water Plan A Step in the Right Direction
“Rangitāne acknowledges the Water Services Delivery Plan that has been agreed by the combined Wairarapa-Tararua Councils as a positive step in the right direction”, says Rangitāne spokesman Jack Morris.
On 20 August, the four Wairarapa-Tararua Councils (South Wairarapa, Carterton, Masterton and Tararua District Councils) agreed to a shared Water Services Delivery Plan as part of the Local Water Done Well reforms. The plan will be submitted to the Department of Internal Affairs by 3 September.
“While there were differing opinions about the best options, our Rangitāne entities were united that change was needed. Now that the decision has been made, we look forward to continuing to be part of the conversation and ensuring all perspectives are considered as we move forward,” says Jack Morris.
“The Water Plan confirms clear roles for iwi on the stakeholder forum and recognises the importance of our Treaty Settlement arrangements and iwi mātauranga in caring for waterways across our rohe. These are important pillars for us as part of our kaitiakitanga over our rights and interests in fresh water. This means our mātauranga and tikanga will play an important role in shaping all the workstreams within the plan, including the Asset Management Strategy”.
“There is more work to be done, of course, and we look forward to working with the Councils in the next phase of establishing our regional Water Services Organisation” says Jack Morris.
ENDS
Media Contact – Tīpene Chrisp / Tipene@tumaira.nz
Note to Editor. Mr Morris is the chair of Te Rūnanga o Rangitāne o Wairarapa. He has lead Rangitāne engagement in this work, with input from the wider Rangitāne group.
25 Ākuhata 2025
Pānui Pāpāho
He tūāoma pai te Mahere Wai
“Ka whakamihi a Rangitāne ki te Mahere Whakarato Ratonga Wai kua whakaaetia nei e ngā Kaunihera o Wairarapa me Tāmaki-nui-ā-Rua hei tūāoma tōrunga ki te ara tika”, hei tā Jack Morris, te māngai o Rangitāne.
Nō te 20 o Ākuhata, ka whakaae ngā Kaunihera e whā o Wairarapa me Tāmaki-nui-ā-Rua (arā ko South Wairarapa, Carterton, Masterton me Tararua District Councils) ki tētahi Mahere Whakarato Ratonga Wai hei wāhanga nō ngā whakahounga ture e kīia nei ko Local Water Done Well. Ka tukua te mahere nei ki Te Tari Taiwhenua hei te 3 o Hepetema.
“I te rerekē ngā whakaaro o tētahi me tētahi mō te kōwhiringa pai, heoi e kotahi ana te whakaaro o ngā wāhanga o Rangitāne tērā me whai panonitanga e pai ai te huarahi whakamua. Kua oti nei te whakatau, heoi ka whakataretare tātau katoa ki te whai wāhi atu ki ngā mahi nei me te whakarite ka whai whakaaro ki ngā tirohanga katoa i a tātau e koki whakamua ana,” hei tā Jack Morris.
“Ka whakapūmau te Mahere Wai nei i te wāhi ki ngā iwi e rua i te pae whaipānga, ka whakaāhukahuka i te wāhi nui ki ngā Whakataunga Tiriti me te mātauranga ā-iwi hei tiaki i ngā wai puta noa i te rohe. He tino pou ēnei nō tō mātau kaitiakitanga i ō mātau tika ki te wai māori. Ko te tikanga, ka noho ko ō tātau mātauranga me ā tātau tikanga hei wāhanga nui ki roto i ngā mahi tārai i ngā rerenga mahi, tae atu ki te Rautaki Whakahaere Rawa”.
“He nui tonu ngā mahi kei mua i te aroaro, tēnei ka minamina ki te mahi tahi ki ngā Kaunihera hei te tūāoma e haere ake nei ki te whakatū i te Whakahaere Wai ā-Rohe” hei tā Jack Morris.
KA MUTU
Kaikawe kōrero – Tīpene Chrisp / tipene@tumaira.nz
Ki te ētita. Ko Mr Morris te heamana o Te Rūnanga o Rangitāne o Wairarapa. Nāna i ārahi te whai wāhi atu a Rangitāne ki ngā mahi nei, me te mahi tahi ki ngā pito o Rangitāne.
