The Elections New Zealand returning officer declares the final result for the 2024 Pou Tuara Elections of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui Trust which closed at 2pm Sunday, 17 November 2024.

Total voter return was 17.81% being 942 voters casting a ballot in the election. 60.19% Voted online and 39.81% voted by post or ballot box.

Work has begun in earnest on our Kaumātua Housing Project, estimated to complete in December 2024.

The Government's Environmental Select Committee is refusing to engage meaningfully when it matters the most over new fast tracking environmental legislation. 

Our students from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngāti Ruanui and Te Paepae o Aotea took on teams from Stratford High School, Inglewood High School, Francis Douglas Memorial College and Waitara High School during the Taranaki Secondary Schools Sports Association (TSSSA) event on Wednesday, May 29.

A shock decision by Cabinet to freeze funding for those seeking recognition of their rights under the crucial Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011 is another blow to iwi–Crown relations. 

The formal opening, in May, was the first chance to cross one of the most striking features of the Taranaki Crossing project on the Taranaki Maunga. Since then tourists, curious locals and avid-hikers have flocked to the site. 

Ngāti Ruanui has teamed up with a kaupapa Māori financial scheme similar to ‘KiwiSaver’ to assist with financial empowerment.

Through the new scheme, Ngāti Ruanui will contribute a dollar for every dollar registered uri contribute to their WhānauSaver accounts (up to $100).

In March, Te Papa launched and hosted iwi representatives for the book launch of ‘Te Ata o Tū, The Shadow of Tūmatauenga: The New Zealand Wars Collections of Te Papa.’ The book explores over 500 powerful taonga from Te Papa’s collections related to our complex colonial history.

The piece of legislation, Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua, acknowledging the treaty breaches and returning our tupuna was read for the first time in Parliament on April 8.

The Ngāti Ruanui Iwi Trust will this October and November hold the election for their new board of Pou Tuara, as required by the Deed of Trust. We are encouraging uri to consider running as a candidate.

The year is in full swing, beginning with the various calls to unite that came from the Kīngitanga, Rātana Pā, and continued in Waitangi in response to the Government’s actions and policy agenda. It was amazing to see such a response from iwi and our people.

It has been revealed that 20-thousand square metres of the seabed is intended to be mined everyday as the second day of the Trans-Tasman Resources Limited hearing to mine the moana comes to a close.

“We are not having it,” Ngāti Ruanui iwi chair Haimona Maruera declared during his spirited challenge at a hearing about mining the seabed.

‘Dictatorship at its worst,’ Ngāti Ruanui opposes Governments fast-track consenting

For Hauraki Erb, industry experience in oil and gas has helped him in his role as pou tuara to provide advice and assist the iwi in their fight against seabed mining.

Work has begun on the 110-metre suspension bridge as part of the upgrades to the Taranaki crossing, due for completion in April 2024.

Despite challenging head winds when it comes to investment and as reported in Novembers annual general meeting, Ngāti Ruanui is in an overall good position heading in 2024.

2023 was a big year for Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui, with the deed review, Te Ruruku Putakerongo, some massive events and kaupapa held but most importantly, a big year for continuing to serve our uri.

2023 end of year mi’i from Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui Tumu W’akaae, Haimona Maruera.

Ngāti Ruanui is inviting the Minister for Resources and Regional Development to front their people after his arrogant outburst last week.

“Ngāti Ruanui is appalled by the arrogant insults made against mana whenua in question time last week by Shane Jones,” said Tumu Whakaae, Haimona Maruera.