Policy and Strategy
Revitalising our environment has us working with a large range of stakeholders and authorities including the Taranaki Regional Council, South Taranaki District Council, Stratford District Council and Central Government.
Working with key industries to achieve positive environmental outcomes.
We make submissions to the Government and other key decision-making agencies on a range of national and local issues relating to our rohe.
We welcome and encourage all uri to contribute their views, and a list of bills open for submission can be found HERE.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui Trust Submissions 2025
Ngāti Ruanui considers this bill significantly undermines and weakens the ability to achieve prevention and population health strategies. The strong focus on equity which is being dismantled further undermines our rights and interests and in particular te Tiriti rights and interests.
For just over two years the Government has embarked on an agenda of legislative reform which has undermined the right and interests of Māori; Ngāti Ruanui is seriously concerned about loss of opportunity and equity focus which has resulted.
Ngāti Ruanui recognises the need for national directions to set a new and clear course for key areas such as infrastructure, the primary sector and freshwater. We are concerned that our engagement and partnership is however being reduced and protection of our rights and interests could be undermined.
The deliberate exclusion of a principle relating to te Tiriti renders the proposed Regulatory Standards Bill inadequate and a failure to take in account the foundation of partnership governance. Ngāti Ruanui is concerned that this proposed Bill could over time delete all Treaty clauses from legislation
Ngāti Ruanui endorses the overall intent behind the proposals but considers more engagement is required with te Tiriti partners/MIO to ensure settings about greater ministerial powers and the protection of customary fishers are adequately addressed. We note that many of the proposals lack evidence and increase sustainability risks for the wider fisheries ecosystems.
Regulatory Standards Bill 2025
The ideological shift of constraining how legislation is developed and applied, both in the future and retrospectively, threatens the very partnership of sovereignty (Crown and Māori) developed through Parliament, the Waitangi Tribunal and Courts.
Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill
The Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill seeks to rewrite Treaty principles. These principles have been developed by the Waitangi Tribunal and the courts over decades, based on a consideration of the texts of te Tiriti o Waitangi/the Treaty of Waitangi and their implications in practice.
Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Amendment Bill
Ngāti Ruanui is opposed to the Bill in its entirety and in particular the ability to refer youth to military-style academies. This Bill goes against evidence and best practice around how to help rangata’i achieve better long-term outcomes.
Ngāti Ruanui considers that the best way to manage youth offending is to address the underlying causes of that offending. This prevents people from causing harm in the first place, rather than merely waiting until they have done so and finding the best way to punish them. Solutions that focus on the individual and environmental factors are needed.
Ngāti Ruanui strongly supports a regulatory approach for managing natural and orange hydrogen development under the CMA. We consider the use of the CMA regime will likely provide certainty given its jurisdiction over other mineral development and the protection it affords to tangata whenua.
Ngāti Ruanui strongly recommends that the Council adopts Option B. Ngāti Runaui strongly recommends a Council appointed committee, responsible to Council, to oversee the delivery of water services.
Ensuring the Te Ture Whenua Maori Act is fit for purpose is supported. Many of the changes proposed have merit and generally endorsed. However, Ngāti Ruanui strongly believes at the heart of each change Maori landowners must be represented and maintain their voice.
We seriously consider that Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga needs to actively support and assist iwi and hapū in any efforts to preserve their history albeit area, place or structure, archaeological feature or landmark.
The proposed national wastewater environmental performance standards are aimed at streamlining the process for future consents. Ngāti Ruanui is seriously concerned that a system that introduces national standards could and will undermine the local partnership work undertaken to ensure we actively improve discharge wastewater sources in respect of water, ocean outfalls, and potentially land based systems.
Like all changes to the Resource Management Act, over many years, this Bill does not add very much clarity to the planning system. The Bill potentially sets up challenges which will result in the opposite of trying to achieve a more simplified planning regime.
Minerals Strategy for New Zealand to 2040
The Draft Minerals Strategy provided a very simple and wide look at mineral development over the next 20 years.
Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) (Customary Marine Title) Amendment Bill
Ngāti Ruanui oppose the Bill in its entirety.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui Trust Submissions 2024
Three Strikes Legislation Repeal Bill
Ngāti Ruanui is opposed to the Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill which would reinstate the legislative regime for sentencing repeat serious offenders.
The Draft Minerals Strategy provided a very simple and wide look at mineral development over the next 20 years.