‍

‍

27 March 2026

‍

Tena koutou,

‍

As Chair of Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou, I first acknowledge the whānau, hapū, and iwi in Te Tai Tokerau and across the north who are currently facing severe weather impacts. Our thoughts are with those communities as they respond in real time to protect their people, their homes, and their whenua. We stand in solidarity with you.

‍

I also acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of our own whānau, hapū, and partner agencies who have stood at the forefront of the response to the devastating weather event that struck Ngati Porou in January.

The impacts across Pōtaka, Wharekahika, Te Araroa, Horoera, Awatere and Rangitūkia have been profound. Homes, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure that underpin the wellbeing of our people and the functioning of our rohe have been significantly affected. While initial relief measures have provided some immediate support, they fall well short of what is required to address the scale and complexity of recovery now facing our communities.

‍

Ngāti Porou has responded as we always do — with resilience, unity, and leadership. Our people are actively driving recovery on the ground: reconnecting access to whenua, restoring essential services, and supporting whānau through immediate hardship while planning for long-term sustainability. This locally led response is a strength, but it must be matched with equally committed and coordinated Crown support.

The challenges ahead are systemic and enduring. Damaged and vulnerable roading networks, compromised river systems, acute housing pressures, and significant impacts on our primary sector require a level of investment and coordination that cannot be met through short-term or fragmented approaches.

‍

The joint funding proposal put forward reflects a genuine partnership model — one that is grounded in local leadership and informed by the lived realities of our communities. It prioritises community wellbeing, environmental resilience, and economic recovery, ensuring that solutions are not imposed, but are shaped by those with deep knowledge of the whenua and enduring commitment to its future.

‍

We welcome the Government’s consideration of this proposal. However, the urgency of the situation cannot be overstated. Timely and adequate investment is critical — not only to enable recovery, but to build the long-term resilience our communities need to withstand future events.

Ngāti Porou stands ready to work in true partnership with the Crown and all stakeholders to deliver enduring outcomes that uphold the mana, wellbeing, and future aspirations of our people.

‍

Nāku noa, nā
Patrick Tangaere
Chair, Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou

‍

GISBORNE HERALD - https://www.nzherald.co.nz/gisborne-herald/news/gisborne-297m-recovery-funding-bid-awaits-government-decision/IJIYOYATNJAJ5PB6X2WQVBSV7M/

‍