22 November 2024
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Reclassification and return of Pururu Reserve South
Enquiry
I'm just requesting clarification for an article I am writing about the classification of Pūruru Reserve to a Māori reservation. I have interviewed Ngahuia Corbett, Mary Corbett's daughter and Pat Ruhi's granddaughter - she is the appointed spokesperson for the hapu on this topic while her mother was overseas. I have also interviewed Jason Pou, the lawyer for Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tūara.
Ngāhuia Corbett, the spokesperson for the whanau said in our interview there was a meeting between Lakes and Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tūara last year and a verbal agreement was made to return the reserve. She couldn't remember the exact date but I will check with Mary Corbett her mum - Can the council provide a record of this meeting happening on your end?
After that meeting were whanau asked to provide a document outlining what they wanted to do with the land once returned? Will try check with Mary Corbett.
When was that meeting? Will try check with Mary Corbett.
Why did the council decommission the playground at Pūruru Reserve?
When did the council decommission the playground at Pūruru Reserve?
Were the whanau made aware public feedback for the proposal would be part of this process when they began this in 2019? Can council please confirm on your end? I will also ask Ngahuia and Mary.
What happens with the proposal to return the reserve to the hapu after public feedback on it closes this Friday Nov 22?
The process to return hapu assets began in 2019 and was initiated by the late Eru George – Jason Pou said this, is this correct? (If not what year did it start) Will ask to check this with Mary through Ngahuia.
“The staff picking it up are behind the eight ball” Corbett has said and I wanted to give you a chance to respond to that. Ngahuia said the public feedback and submission process had been frustrating for whanau and that staff picking up from those who originally worked on the return of Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tūara assets were behind, in terms of knowing what was going on. Can the council confirm who these staff were? Jason Pou, their lawyer, has said Gina Rangi, Greg Manzano and former mayor Stevie Chadwick had been important in getting the agreement to what it is.
When was the tennis court open and functional at Pūruru Reserve on Tārewa Rd, when did that stop and why?
Jason Pou has said: “The beautiful thing about the resource consent that's being applied for will be co-held by the council and Ngāti Kea." Is this true? Will the council co-hold [resource] consent of the reserve as a result of this process? (In the Heads of Agreement, point 1 states, "our shared commitment to working in partnership". And opens with: "RLC and Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tūara wish to establish a new relationship based on a commitment to partnership". How new would the council say this relationship with Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tūara is?
Has Lakes Council co-held consent with a hapu for anything else before? (Is Karamu Takina Springs an example of this)?
How does the ownership of Karamu Takina Spring affect the return of Pururū Reserve if the spring has already been returned to Ngati Kea Ngati Tūara?
How is Karamu Takina Spring connected to Pururū Reserve?
Response
We provided the following information:
From Infrastructure and Environment Group Manager Stavros Michael:
Re meeting between Lakes and Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tūara last year and verbal agreement to return the reserve.
Council met with whānau multiple times last year and we continue to meet with them regularly to keep them informed of the process.
NOTE FOR REPORTER: To clarify, Mary Corbett is the designated whānau spokesperson and the most appropriate person to speak with, as she has been directly involved with the Council throughout this process. Based on the information you provided, it sounds like her daughter Ngāhuia is relaying details Mary has shared with her. While Mary initially indicated it was fine to communicate with her while she was out of the country, I recommend verifying with her (Mary) now that she is back and is available.
After that meeting were whanau asked to provide a document outlining what they wanted to do with the land once returned?
They were asked to provide a document guiding the council on how they wanted the land to be returned and they indicated that was via a trust.
When was that meeting?
There has been multiple meetings with Mary and we can’t confirm which meeting this took place.
Why did the council decommission the playground at Pūruru Reserve?
In 1964 lands at Tarewa (Tarewa 6B and 6C) were donated to the council to hold as a reserve (to be called Pururū North Reserve). Tennis courts had been built by the local people on the land. Kaumatua Patu Ruhi gifted his land and Council purchased interests from the remaining owners.
Ngāti Kearoa Ngāti Tūara owners also gifted other lands to Council including Tarewa 7B (known as Pururu South reserve and gifted for use as a playground) and part of Kuirau Park (including the area underlying the Rotorua Aquatic Centre).
Tarewa Road remains a stronghold for Ngāti Kearoa Ngāti Tūara, with a number of Māori land blocks remaining in traditional ownership.
By 2020, the Pururu North Reserve tennis courts had fallen into disrepair and at the request of the original owners, Council consulted on the proposed revocation of the reserve status for Tarewa 6B and 6C which was subsequently agreed by the Minister of Conservation and was gazetted in 2021.
In late 2021, the Pururu South Reserve playground was due for renewal but investments at Kuirau Park meant replacing it was redundant. In 2022, a decision was made to remove the playground following consultation with the community and neighbouring residents. The basis of the decision was that the condition of the playground had declined due to age and as a result it was becoming unsafe. There are also other public and private play areas and reserves nearby.
When did the council decommission the playground at Pūruru Reserve?
As above
Were the whanau made aware public feedback for the proposal would be part of this process when they began this in 2019? Can council please confirm on your end? I will also ask Ngahuia and Mary.
This should be put to Mary to confirm as we have had multiple meetings with her.
What happens with the proposal to return the reserve to the hapu after public feedback on it closes this Friday Nov 22?
Submissions for the proposal close at 5pm today (Friday, November 22). Council has so far received 88 submissions; 75 supporting the proposal and 13 against the proposal, but supporting the return of the land to the whānau. Seven submitters have asked to speak at the hearing on Monday (November 25). Mary Corbett is one of the submitters who supports the proposal and has asked to speak at the hearing.
Following Monday’s hearing, Council will make a decision on the proposal on Wednesday December 11, 2024.
Here is a link to a timeline for the process and what the next steps will be.
The process to return hapu assets began in 2019 and was initiated by the late Eru George – Jason Pou said this, is this correct? (If not what year did it start) Will ask to check this with Mary through Ngahuia.
Please check this with Mary.
“The staff picking it up are behind the eight ball” Corbett has said and I wanted to give you a chance to respond to that. Ngahuia said the public feedback and submission process had been frustrating for whanau and that staff picking up from those who originally worked on the return of Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tūara assets were behind, in terms of knowing what was going on. Can the council confirm who these staff were? Jason Pou, their lawyer, has said Gina Rangi, Greg Manzano and former mayor Stevie Chadwick had been important in getting the agreement to what it is.
Council is required to seek public feedback and submissions as part of the formal process to return the land.
When was the tennis court open and functional at Pūruru Reserve on Tārewa Rd, when did that stop and why?
Answered above
Jason Pou has said: “The beautiful thing about the resource consent that's being applied for will be co-held by the council and Ngāti Kea." Is this true? Will the council co-hold [resource] consent of the reserve as a result of this process? (In the Heads of Agreement, point 1 states, "our shared commitment to working in partnership". And opens with: "RLC and Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tūara wish to establish a new relationship based on a commitment to partnership". How new would the council say this relationship with Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tūara is?
The resource consent Mr Pou is referring to is the consent being sought for the water take at Karamu Takina Springs, not the two parcels of land on Tarewa Rd which Council proposes to classify as Māori reservation and vest it in trustees representing the people of Taharangi Marae.
Has Lakes Council co-held consent with a hapu for anything else before? (Is Karamu Takina Springs an example of this)?
Yes. Council and Ngati Rangiwewehi have a joint consent for ongoing water take from Pekehaua Puna/Taniwha Springs for the benefit of the community.submitted a joint consent application for Taniwha Spring, jointly with Ngati Rangiwewehi
You can find out more about this here: Mana of Taniwha Springs restored - Rotorua Lakes Council
How does the ownership of Karamu Takina Spring affect the return of Pururū Reserve if the spring has already been returned to Ngati Kea Ngati Tūara?
The return of Pururū Reserve acknowledges the historic and enduring contributions of Ngāti Kearoa Ngāti Tūara to the Rotorua community, particularly through their role in providing access to water from the Karamu Takina spring that supplies the town’s water system.
How is Karamu Takina Spring connected to Pururū Reserve?
As above
