Volume One 3. Marlborough’s tangata whenua iwi 3. Marlborough’s tangata whenua iwi Introduction Section 62(1)(b)(i) of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) requires resource management issues of significance to iwi authorities in Marlborough to be identified and included in a regional policy statement. As part of the process of preparing the Marlborough Environment Plan (MEP), a series of hui were held with Marlborough’s tangata whenua iwi 1 to determine the resource management issues of significance for them. Three distinct groups of issues were identified through process: • spiritual and cultural issues of fundamental importance that relate to iwi connection to and use of natural and physical resources; • relationship and process issues, including iwi involvement in decision making on resource consent applications and on developing policy to assist in Council’s decision making; and • issues of significance or concern for both iwi and the wider community, such as adequate waste management, transport issues and the protection of people and property from natural hazards, etc. Marlborough’s tangata whenua iwi recognise that all of these issues are interconnected. They believe that Marlborough’s natural and physical resources need to be managed in an integrated and holistic way to achieve a sustainable future. This chapter describes the first two issues and provides objectives and policies to address them. There is a high degree of agreement among Marlborough’s tangata whenua iwi on these issues. However, it is important to note that in some cases, the issue identified may not be able to be resolved through the MEP. To help clarify the nature of the issues and to provide context for their significance, this chapter initially provides information on the Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti o Waitangi, including the settlement of claims before the Waitangi Tribunal; how environmental management systems of Marlborough’s tangata whenua iwi have developed and been practised generations; the mauri of natural and physical resources; and the significance of values such as kaitiakitanga, taonga and tikanga. Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) in a Marlborough context The Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti of Waitangi is the basis for the rights and responsibilities of the Crown and Māori. The Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti of Waitangi is recognised in resource management through Section 8 of the RMA, which states that in achieving the purpose of the RMA, the principles of Te Tiriti shall be taken into account. It is the position of Marlborough’s tangata whenua iwi that the Council is a partner to Te Tiriti. This position stems from the delegation of functions for managing natural and physical resources to local government through the RMA. It is the view of Marlborough’s tangata whenua iwi that this 1As explained in Chapter 2 - Background, eight iwi have manawhenua in Marlborough: Ngāti Apa, Ngāti Kōa ta, Ngāti Kuia, Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Toa, Ngāi Tahu, Rangitāne and Te Ātiawa. Information on an individual iwi history and the relationship of each iwi with the Marlborough environment can be found in iwi management plans and the relevant Deed of Settlement. Collectively, these eight iwi are referred to in the MEP as Marlborough’s tangata whenua iwi. 3 – 1