Port of Tauranga Expansion
with ngā hapū o Tauranga Moana | BAY OF PLENTY
The why!
The Port of Tauranga, the country’s largest port, sought a series of resource consents to dredge the main shipping channel (Stella Passage) and develop new infrastructure within the existing port environment. Ngāi Te Rangi, an iwi with mana whenua status in the Tauranga Moana, and close neighbours to the Port, initially sought help from TCG to oppose the resource consents and support their key people throughout the process.
How did we assist?
In this multi-year project, TCG developed expert planning statements for the Environment Court process; provided strategic and sense-making support to the hapū and kaitiaki forums as they navigated the lengthy hearing process; and then produced a settlement package, centred around abundance outcomes and giving back to the moana, which was put to the Court.
What happened?
The Court’s 2023 interim decision noted that until deficiencies in the way the Port had done its job could be reconciled, consent would not be granted; and it set some ‘homework’ for all parties! Since then, the TCG team has been supporting the articulation of hapū values into the negotiation process; acting as the key liaison agency for engaging with the Port; and building a case for a possible settlement that reflects the rights and aspirations of hapū.
This work has centred around putting the hapū collective at the centre of the process - developing models that allow the exercise of the iwi’s kaitiaki function in Te Awanui | Tauranga Harbour, whilst providing for the restoration of Tauranga Moana.
Ngā hapū o Tauranga Moana who we have worked with on this include: Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Te Rangi Iwi Trust, Ngā Hapū o Ngā Moutere Trust, Ngāti Hē, Ngāti Kaahu a Tamapahore Trust, Ngāti Kuku Hapū, Ngāti Tapu, Ngā Tai ke Mauao and Whareroa Marae Trust.
