Te Oneroa-a-Tōhē/Ninety Mile Beach public feedback sought

Media release on behalf of Te Oneroa-a-Tōhē / Ninety Mile Beach Board

The public’s views are being sought as a precursor to development of a ground-breaking formal management plan for one of New Zealand’s most iconic beaches; Te Oneroa-a-Tōhē / Ninety Mile Beach.

Established through Treaty of Waitangi settlement legislation, the eight-member Te Oneroa-a-Tōhē Board has an even split of iwi and local government members and has been tasked with developing a management plan for the beach.

Board chair Haami Piripi (Te Rarawa) says the beach is well-known by tangata whenua for ‘Te Ara Wairua’, the spiritual pathway the deceased take on the journey to their ancient homeland.

“However, this beach is of extreme cultural, historical and spiritual significance – not just to the five iwi who make up Te Hiku o Te Ika, (‘the tail of the fish’; Ngāti Kuri, Te Aupouri, NgāiTakoto, Ngāti Kahu and Te Rarawa) – but to the wider community, Māori and non-Māori, right across Northland and New Zealand.”

Mr Piripi says before it can develop the plan, the board wants to find out what people think the important issues facing the beach are and how these should be managed.

“At this point, there are no set views on what the plan might say and we’re genuinely keen to hear everyone’s views.”

To that end, the board plans to hold a series of hui in coming weeks at venues around the north to hear from people first-hand and is also encouraging people to send written feedback to [email protected] by Friday 13 September.

A website – www.teoneroa-a-tohe.nz – has also been set up to outline the range of ways the public can have a say and find out more about the Beach Management Plan.

Comments can also be posted to:

Te Oneroa-a-Tōhē Beach Management Plan
Northland Regional Council
Private Bag 9021, Whangārei Mail Centre,
WHANGĀREI 0148

Mr Piripi says in addition to feedback gathered between now and the mid-September cut off, the board will also hold further public consultation over summer. All this information will collectively feed into – and help shape – a draft of the plan, which the board hopes to release for further public comment in about 12 months’ time.

While that might seem some way off, Mr Piripi says board members are acutely aware there are a lot of diverse views on the beach and are collectively focused on getting the eventual balance of the plan right.

“Ultimately, the management plan will shape the future uses of the beach across a raft of potential areas including cultural, resource management and economic considerations. The decisions we collectively make over the next few years will impact for generations to come and it’s definitely worth investing the time now to ensure we get the best result we possibly can.”

Hui/meeting dates and venues (current as of early July) are:

July:

Thursday 18 July; Te Ahu Centre, Kaitāia 4-6pm
Friday 19 July; Roma Marae, Ahipara 5.30-7.30pm
Saturday 20 July; Kaitāia Markets 8-10am
Friday 26 July; Potahi Marae, Te Kao 5.30-7.30pm

August:

Sunday 25 August; Houhora Big Game & Sports Fishing Club, Pukenui 4-6pm
Monday 26 August; Te Hiku o Te Ika Marae, Te Hapua 5.30-7.30pm
Tuesday 27 August; Kaitāia Golf Club, Ahipara 4-6pm

Mr Piripi says dates, times and/or venues may change and people are advised to visit www.teoneroa-a-tohe.nz for the most up-to-date event information.

For further information on this release; Haami Piripi (chairman Te Oneroa-a-Tōhē / Ninety Mile Beach Board) (027) 441 9426.

Background information:
As of June 2019, Te Oneroa-a-Tōhē/Ninety Mile Beach Board ’s chair is Haami Piripi (Te Rarawa) and Mate Radich (Far North District Council member) is deputy chair. Remaining board members (in alphabetical order) are; John Carter (Far North District Council), Paul Dimery (Northland Regional Council), Mike Finlayson (Northland Regional Council), Rangitane Marsden (NgāiTakoto), Graeme Neho (Ngāti Kuri) and Hone Witana (Te Aupouri).