“This mandate sits with aneroa-a-tōhē beach board.”
While McNab is also the chair of the Beach Board and represents Te Rarawa, she has set up a process that does not comprise for everyone, said Brown.
The beach board was set up as a legal body when the majority of the IWI of Te Hiku made their contract for Waitangi claims.
Current members represent TE Rarawa, Ngāti Kuri, Te auupouri, Te Auupouri, Northland Regional Council and Room, which is left of its settlement.
Brown said she represented the last commercial fisherman who works on Te Oneroa-A-Tōhē, and her father and brother still have traditions by being mullet and her brother who is the only Māori-Mussel-Spat collector.
Brown supports the restoration of the beach in general, but is concerned that Ngā Puāwai undermines the beach board and could take the authority of Te auupōuri away.
“One of the worrying parts is when there are suggestions for research and Māauranga Māori: We could lose our rangatratiranga when it comes to carrying out our own research and validating our own traditional practices that have been passed on over generations.”
Brown said Te auupōuria was recognized and in 2023 Statute Ace Statrae in its region – an area of the beach Telend Adam, west of Te Kao.
Graeme Neho, who represents Ngāti Kiri on the Oneroaaa-A-Tōhono, has concerns about flowers above the beach.
It is due to every IWI to tell her own story about the beach and decide which work you want to do in your area through Marae consultation, he said.
“We can't say to anything 'yes' until we have confirmation from the Marae.”
But McNab said that Ngā Puāwai was born in September 2023 from a three-day Wānanga, which was led by the Beach Board, in which 88 people took part, including IWI and Hapū leader, community researcher, planner, crown agencies and local Whānau.
The project continues to report to the board, while the board focuses on governance and regulation, said McNab.
“We in no way take responsibility or mana of the Beach Board,” she said.
“We drive with a suction papa to do something good for the beach, and everyone benefits.
“There is no policy behind it, except for the well -being of the beach.”
McNab said she intends to hold another meeting with the beach board next week to discuss problems.
Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern lawyerFocus on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is thrilled to report stories that make a difference.