Ngāti Hikairo ki Kāwhia

UPDATE ON GENERAL ELECTIONS

Hiriwhi — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 11:20:00 +0000

Kia ora e te Whānau

Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Hikairo is committed to ensuring our whānau have clear, accessible information ahead of the upcoming election. Below are the key dates and guidance you need to participate fully.

Key Election Dates

Election Day: 7 November 2026

Last day to register to vote: 25 October 2025

Additional dates are available on the Electoral Commission website: Key information and dates | Elections NZ

How to Register to Vote

It is important that every eligible whānau member is enrolled and ready to vote.

You can:

Check whether you are enrolled

Update your details

Complete a new enrolment

All of this can be done online through the Electoral Commission: How to enrol – Enrol or update online | Vote NZ

If you are not enrolled, simply follow the prompts to register online or request printed forms.

Enrolment forms will also be available at the Rūnanga AGM for those who prefer to complete them kanohi ki te kanohi.

Strategic Voting (Rūnanga Perspective)

Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Hikairo encourages whānau to understand strategic voting — how your party vote and electorate vote can influence the number of Māori voices in Parliament.

We encourage you to watch the explanatory video on the Overhang Strategy – Election 2026: Overhang Strategy – Election 2026.

While the video uses an example, you are free to vote in the way that best reflects your own views and aspirations. The Rūnanga is not directing how you should vote; rather, we are supporting informed decision‑making.

Why Your Vote Matters (Rūnanga Perspective)

Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Hikairo strongly encourages all eligible whānau to enrol and exercise your right to vote.

From the Rūnanga’s perspective, the current coalition government has not acted in ways that uphold the interests of Māori, Iwi, Hapū, and Whānau. We believe that change is needed to protect and advance our collective well-being.

Your vote is one of the most powerful tools we have to influence that change.

KIA HIWA RA, KIA HIWA RA

Hiriwhi — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 05:08:20 +0000

Notice of Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Hikairo Annual General Meeting for 2026

The Annual General Meeting for Te Runanganui o Ngāti Hikairo (AGM) will be held on Saturday, 18 July 2026. The AGM details are as follows:

Date: 18 July 2026

Venue: Waipapa Marae, Kawhia

Time: 10 am to 3 pm

Lunch: 12.00 pm

Virtual Link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/5971044015?omn=81366656602

Meeting arrangements

To help keep our whanau safe, particularly our elderly, our young, and those of our loved ones who are immunocompromised, we will follow the Ministry of Health’s advice for large meetings.

If you are sick, please stay at home and look after yourself. Fortunately, you will be able to access the meeting via the Zoom link, which will be in operation.

To help our members stay informed and up to date before the meeting, most required documents will be available on this page after 5 July 2026.

AGM Agenda

At the time of the issuing of this Paanui, the agenda for the AGM was as follows:

Time	Subject	Duration (min)
10.00	Karakia	5
10.05 – 10.15	Welcome from Chair	10
10.15 – 10.45	Chairmans Report	30
10.45 – 11.15	Treasurer’s Financial Report	30
11.15 – 12.00	Resource Management Committee Report	45
12.00 – 1.00 pm	LUNCH	(May be shortened depending on the morning sessions’ runtime)
1.00 – 2.15 pm	Claims Managers Report	45
2.15 – 3.15 pm	Voting for Officers	60
3.15 – 3.30 pm	Whakamutunga	15
3.30 – 4.00 pm	Kapu-ti	30

*Agenda items and their timings may change at the discretion of the Rūnanga.

Annual General Meeting Admin Documents

The Final AGM Agenda, Draft Minutes for the 2025 AGM, The Chairman’s Report, the Claims Manager’s Report, the Resource Management Committee Report, and the Proxy and Nomination Forms will be available on the Runanganui website after 5 July 2026.

The link for members to register on the website is below:

Ngati Hikairo Registration Form

Treasurers Report

The Treasurer’s Financial Report will be available on the Website from 6 July 2026.

Due date for Registration Forms, Proxies, and Nomination Forms

Returns for Proxy Forms, Nomination Forms, and Registration Forms are due by 11 July 2026. The Secretary must have these forms by 10 pm on 11 July 2026. The return addresses for these forms are:

Email: Mahina-a-rangi Manuel at mahinaarangimanuel@gmail.com

Or posted to:

P O Box 98
Kawhia 3889

For those who wish to consider being nominated for one of the Officer Roles or the Executive Committee Roles, please remember that the constitution was changed at the 2022 AGM to increase the term from 1 year to 3 years. The Chair and one Executive Member’s terms will end this year, and they may stand for re-election.

Whanau can request any of these forms (nomination, proxy, and registration) to be sent to you by texting 027 356 9988. Please include your email address or mailing address.

For those whanau who are travelling, Waipapa Marae will be open from Friday Afternoon through to Sunday Morning. Please advise the secretary by email mahinaarangimanuel@gmail.com if you intend to stay at the Marae so that catering numbers for dinner on Friday and Saturday can be planned.

Naku Noa

Susan Turner

Chair, Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Hikairo

Link for Kaiewe Reservation Hui

Hiriwhi — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 00:38:41 +0000

Below is the zoom link for the Kaiewe Reservation Hui planned for Saturday 17 January 2026, starting at 10 am.

The zoom page will be open from 10 am.

Regards,

Susan Turner

Chair, Te Runanganui o Ngati Hikairo

Join Zoom Meeting

CLICK HERE

Meeting ID: 597 104 4015
Passcode: TRONH

Kaiewe Hui Documents

Hiriwhi — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 12:00:42 +0000

Kia ora e te whanau

As discussed in our paanui of 7 December 2025, Please find attached the following documents:

As advised, the hui will be on the 17 January 2026, from 10 am through to 3 pm at Waipapa Marae, Kawhia.

Please have your nominations to the secretary of the Runanganui by 5 pm on Wednesday 14 January 2026. His email is kuseymour1@xtra.co.nz

Naku noa Susan Turner

Chair, Te Runanganui o Ngati Hikairo

KIA HIWA RA, KIA HIWA RA

Hiriwhi — Sun, 07 Dec 2025 10:15:06 +0000

Kaiewe Charter and Appointment of Administrators

Notice of Te Runanganui o Ngati Hikairo Hui a iwi

Te Runanganui o Ngati Hikairo is calling a hui a iwi to be held on Saturday the 17 January 2026. The hui is to approve a Charter for the Marae Reservation at Kaiewe and appoint and reconfirm administrators for its ongoing management. Hui details are as follows:

Date: 17 January 2026

Venue: Waipapa Marae, Kawhia

Time: 10 am to 3.30 pm

Lunch: 12.00 pm

Virtual Link: to be advised when papers are published on 3 January 2026

To help our members be informed and up to date before the meeting most of the documents required for the meeting will be available on the Runanganui website from Saturday the 3 January 2026.

Agenda*

As at the time of the issuing of this Paanui, the agenda for the AGM was as follows:

Time	Subject	Duration (min)
10.00	Karakia	5
10.05 – 10.15	Welcome from Chair of Te Runanganui o Ngati Hikairo	10
10.15 – 10.45	History of Kaiewe	30
10.45 – 12.00 pm	Proposed Charter	75

12.00 – 1.00 pm	LUNCH	(May be shortened depending on Morning sessions runtime)
1.00pm – 3.00 pm	Election of Trustees	180
3.00 – 4.00 pm	Kapu-ti	60

*Agenda items and their timings may change, at the discretion of the Chair.

Hui a iwi Documents

The final agenda, nomination forms and draft charter will be available on the Runanganui website from the 3 January 2026.

Due date for Nomination Forms

For those who wish to consider being nominated for one of the administrator Roles, please have your nomination form to the Secretary of Te Runanganui o Ngati Hikairo by Wednesday 14 January 2026.

Whanau can request the nomination form to be sent to you by texting 021 668 728, by downloading the form from the website or by emailing kuseymour1@xtra.co.nz. Please include your email address or mailing address.

Naku Noa

Susan Turner

Chair, Te Runanganui o Ngati Hikairo

Annual General Meeting Final Report

Hiriwhi — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 10:08:44 +0000

Click here for the Annual General Meeting Final Report

Reports for the Te Runanganui o Ngati Hikairo 2025 Annual General Meeting

Hiriwhi — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 08:53:09 +0000

Please see below links to the following documents:

2025 Annual General Meeting Agenda

2024/2025 Financial Accounts Report

Resource Management Committee Annual Report

Claims Managers Annual Report.

The final documents, along with the Chairmans Annual Report will be available in hard copy at the Annual General Meeting on Saturday 19 July 2025 at Waipapa Marae, Kawhia.

Regards

Kurutia Seymour

Secretary, Te Runanganui o Ngati Hikairo

Te Runanganui o Ngati Hikairo Annual General Meeting 2025 release of Supporting Documents

Hiriwhi — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 00:40:00 +0000

The following documents for the Annual General Meeting (AGM) planned for 19 July 2025 at Waipapa Marae, Kawhia.

The documents are:

2025 Annual General Meeting Agenda

Minutes from the 2024 Annual General Meeting

Proxy form for members to nominate a proxy at the AGM

Nomination form for Committee Members

Nomination form for Officers

Election of Officer and Committee Member Roles

The Treasurer role is on rotation for its three yearly election. The role requires financial literacy and a background or relevant qualification in a related discipline. In addition, there are two committee member positions available for appointment as a part of this election cycle. Officer and Committee Member roles serve three-year terms.

Final Committee Reports and Financial Accounts

The final reports and accounts will be released in the week prior to the meeting on this website. Physical copies of these reports will also be available at the Annual General Meeting.

Waipapa Marae Open for AGM

A reminder that the Marae will be open for whanau to stay at if they wish to attend the AGM. It will be open from 3.00 pm on Friday 18 July, 2025, until Sunday Morning, 20 July 2025.

Please advise the secretary on kuseymour1@xtra.co.nz if you are wanting to stay at the marae for catering purposes.

Naku Noa

Susan Turner

Chair, Te Runanganui o Ngati Hikairo

KIA HIWA RA, KIA HIWA RA

Hiriwhi — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 11:40:19 +0000

Notice of Te Runanganui o Ngati Hikairo

Annual General Meeting for 2025

The Annual General Meeting for Te Runanganui o Ngati Hikairo (AGM) will be held on Saturday the 19 July 2025. The AGM details are as follows:

Date: 19 July 2025

Venue: Waipapa Marae, Kawhia

Time: 10 am to 4 pm

Lunch: 12.00 pm

Virtual Link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/5971044015?pwd=bHJb4baPKm5w8WQ1K3IworqGp2TTvz.1&omn=83811233227

Passcode: TRONH

Meeting arrangements

To help keep our whanau be safe, particularly our elderly, our young and those of our loved ones who are immune compromised we will be following the advice provided by the Ministry of Health for large meetings.

If you are sick, please stay at home and look after yourself. Fortunately, you will be able to access the meeting via the zoom link which will be in operation.

To help our members be informed and up to date before the meeting the majority of the documents required for the meeting will be available on this page after 6 July 2025.

AGM Agenda*

As at the time of the issuing of this Paanui, the agenda for the AGM was as follows:

Time	Subject	Duration (min)
10.00	Karakia	5
10.05 – 10.15	Welcome from Chair	10
10.15 – 10.45	Chairmans Report	30
10.45 – 11.15	Treasurers Financial Report	30
11.15 – 12.00	Resource Management Committee Report	45

12.00 – 1.00 pm	LUNCH	(May be shortened depending on Morning sessions runtime)
1.00pm – 1.30 pm	Memorandum of Understanding with Waipapa Marae Trust	30
1.30 – 2.15 pm	Claims Managers Report	45
2.15 – 3.15 pm	Voting for Officers	60
3.15 – 3.30 pm	Whakamutunga	15
3.30 – 4.00 pm	Kapu-ti	30

*Agenda items and their timings may change, at the discretion of the Chair.

Annual General Meeting Admin Documents

The Final AGM Agenda, Draft Minutes for the 2024 AGM, The Chairmans Report, the Claims Managers Report, the Resource Management Committee Report, and the Proxy and Nomination Forms will be available on the Runanganui website after 6 July 2025.

The link for members to register on the website is below:

Ngati Hikairo Registration Form

Treasurers Report

The Treasurers Financial Report will be available on the Website from the 6 July 2025.

Memorandum of Understanding with Waipapa Marae Trust

The Waipapa Marae Trustees will be meeting with Beneficiaries before the AGM on the 19 July 2025 from 9 am to 10 am to agree the content of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Waipapa Marae Trust and Te Runanganui o Ngati Hikairo.

Should the beneficiaries agree and pass the Memorandum of Understanding, it will be discussed and voted on in the Runanganui AGM later in the day.

Due date for Registration Forms, Proxys, and Nomination Forms

Returns for Proxy Forms, Nomination Forms and Registration Forms is 12 July 2025. The Secretary must have these forms by 10 pm 12 July 2025. The return addresses for these forms are:

Email: kuseymour1@xtra.co.nz

Kurutia Seymour

Secretary, Te Runanganui o Ngati Hikairo

188 Grampian Street

TOKOROA 3420

For those who wish to consider being nominated for one of the Officers Roles or one of the Executive Committee Roles, please remember that the constitution was changed at the 2022 AGM to increase the term from 1 year to three years. The Treasurer and two Executive Members terms will be ending this year and may stand for re-election.

Whanau can request any of these forms (nomination, proxy, and registration) to be sent to you by texting 021 668 728. Please include your email address or mailing address.

For those whanau who are travelling, Waipapa Marae will be open from Friday Afternoon through to Sunday Morning. Please advise the secretary by email (kuseymour1@xtra.co.nz} if you are intending to stay at the Marae so that numbers for catering for dinner on Friday and Saturday and can be planned for.

Naku Noa

Susan Turner

Chair, Te Runanganui o Ngati Hikairo

Update: Pōhutukawa Tree Removal at Kāwhia Waterfront

Hiriwhi — Sun, 23 Mar 2025 09:25:16 +0000

Tēnā koutou e te iwi

You may have seen recent media coverage about the proposed removal of pōhutukawa trees on the waterfront at the entrance to Kāwhia Township.

We want to provide an update and some background on this situation to help clarify our position as Ngāti Hikairo.

Background and Council Consultation

The pōhutukawa trees in question were planted around 2005–2006 as part of a local beautification project. At that time, there was little to no consultation with Ngāti Hikairo regarding the planting. The area they were placed in—known as Taihoa, and further along, Waimurumaho—is a traditional taunga waka (waka landing site).

The name Taihoa refers to the practice of launching and temporarily mooring waka there. Historical photos of the area show no trees present, which makes sense as trees would have obstructed waka movements

Image: Taihoa c.1884 — A traditional waka landing area with no trees along the foreshore

The Ōtorohanga District Council recently undertook consultation with the community and iwi. Despite objections from some in the community, the Kāwhia Community Board has confirmed the trees will be removed.

Ngāti Hikairo’s Position

After careful consideration, Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Hikairo determined that we should support the removal of these trees for the following reasons:

The trees are damaging the footpath and road; this will worsen over time and become more costly to repair.
The trees may contribute to erosion, threatening both the road and the moana.
These are not seedlings from our tūpuna rākau (Tangitekorowhiti or Te Papa o Karewa), but saplings brought into Kāwhia.
The site is a traditional taunga waka and historically did not contain trees.
If erosion forces the road to be moved, Māori whenua may be taken for new access into the town.
In agreement with the Council, removed timber will be offered for whakairo (carving).

Image: Satellite image showing pōhutukawa trees to be removed in red, and remaining trees in green.

History of the Area

The whenua where the trees are located – Taihoa and Waimurumaho – is rich with Ngāti Hikairo history. These were significant waka landing areas and were intentionally kept clear. The planting in 2005–06 did not reflect this historical use or involve appropriate consultation.

Image: Waimurumaho c.1910s — Coastline was traditionally clear to allow waka access.

Image: Kāwhia Harbour from hillside – Tree-free foreshore demonstrates historic waka activity zones.

This is not a decision we take lightly. It reflects a balance between protecting our infrastructure, acknowledging our history, and preserving our whenua and moana for future generations. We believe this approach honours both the practical needs of today and the responsibilities Ngāti Hikairo hold as kaitiaki in Kāwhia Moana.

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa.

Nāku noa, nā

Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Hikairo