The Rapua te Ara Rangatira, Kia Hikitia Ai Te Oranga research team, comprising Utiku Potaka, Luke Enoka, Amohia Boulton and Bridgette Masters-Awatere, completed the second of four governance workshops with Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Hauiti on Saturday 11th of May.
The first workshop, completed in February of 2024, introduced the Rūnanga to a new, bespoke model of governance, Te Remu o te Huia (the tail feathers of the huia), developed from three main sources: the findings of an academic literature review; interviews with local tribal leaders, governance members and managers of iwi entities; and the knowledge, wisdom and concepts contained within Hauiti pūrākau. The model is currently presented in the form of a handbook, comprising a number of modules. A diagram of the Treaty Settlement process as well as one which outlines the various components of Group Hauiti is also included within the handbook.
In the first workshop Rūnanga members were invited to comment and provide feedback on two of the modules within the governance handbook, and at the recent meeting in May, the third and final module was presented for Rūnanga comment.
The Rapua team were encouraged by the level of interest in the model, and the way the Rūnanga are engaging with the concepts and suggestions outlined within the handbook. The team will now incorporate the feedback received from this hui and update the handbook accordingly. Both the research team and Rūnanga members themselves are committed to ensuring the model is both practical and useful, rather than being something that is simply left on a shelf to “gather dust”. The team will return in August 2024 for a further meeting with the Rūnanga to bed in the components of the model.
The Rapua team would like to extend their appreciation to Rūnanga members for their avid participation in this project, aimed at improving governance and leadership for the people of Ngāti Hauiti and beyond.
Further information about the study, including an animated video, can be found on the project webpage here.
