THE STEEL FIST

An ad appeared in the public notices of the local newspaper on Tuesday 5th last week under the logotype of the Far North District Council.  At first glance it looked unremarkable, except for the fact that it signalled FNDC’s continued backdown over its boycott against advertising in the Northland Age.  Engari, the content of the ad was extraordinary.   It announced that, at the request of the BBC, Te Oneroa-a-Tohe (90 Mile Beach) would be closed to all vehicular traffic, residents and visitors from Monday 11 March to Sunday 17 March between 12.00pm to 5.00pm. 

Hapū manawhenua from Te Paatu, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāitakoto and Te Rarawa immediately demanded retraction of the notice and an apology from the FNDC.  Two days later they received that apology, but by then the FNDC’s blunder had caught the attention of the media, and even the normally laid back Chair of Te Runanga o Te Rarawa was visibly upset.

Te Rarawa is one of three Iwi (Te Aupōuri and Ngāitakoto are the other two) who recently signed coordinated Crown deeds of settlement.  One of the most-trumpeted planks of those settlements is something that will be called the Te Hiku Beach Board.  But unlike Hapū manawhenua, the Board was waiting on Crown settlement legislation to create it, after which each settling Iwi and a matching number of Crown appointees would all have seats on it.  So to have advertised this beach closure without talking to either the Board or its Chair-in-waiting was extraordinarily bad form, even for the FNDC.

On Sunday they met with their Iwi counterparts and agreed that they won’t wait for the Crown to create their Board, but will get it up and running as soon as possible. 

Meantime Kaumātua of the manawhenua Hapū of Te Paatu and Ngāti Kahu have confirmed that the Te Hiku Beach Board-in-waiting does not have their mandate to represent them on this or any other issue.  Instead they expect the FNDC and other outside agencies to contact and speak directly with them or their nominee(s) before it does anything within their rohe.

One day the details of this single incident will be written about more fully.  Today it is enough that the FNDC have had further practice in backing down.  Ngāmihi ki te meke tira o ngā Hapū manawhenua, me te wereweti karapu o he Iwi. 

Which brings me to the most important thing happening in the country this week, the NATIONWIDE RALLY AGAINST CHILD ABUSE.

“If we can’t stand up for the safety and protection of our children, then what use is it to fight for Te Oneroa-a-Tohe?  If our tamariki have not been nurtured to be the best they possibly can be, what use is fighting for anything?” [RUEBEN TAIPARI – KAITĀIA ORGANISER]

When it comes to our children there is no place for a steel fist, only the velvet glove.