Te Ao Mārama Incorporated
Te Ao Mārama Incorporated (TAMI) represents Murihiku tangata whenua for resource management purposes and is made up of representatives of the four Murihiku Papatipu Rūnanga – Ōraka Aparima, Waihōpai, Awarua and Hokonui.
Te Ao Mārama works with the four Papatipu Rūnanga to support them to exercise their role as Kaitiaki. We do this by providing professional advice on behalf of mana whenua in their role as treaty partners with Councils and Central Government.
Papatipu Rūnanga
Waihopai Rūnaka
Ōraka-Aparima Rūnaka
Hokonui Rūnaka
Te Rūnaka o Awarua
Our Purpose and Mission
Purpose | To be the mandated voice of Ngā Papatipu rūnanga ki Murihiku for Local Government, environmental management and other matters where directed by Papatipu rūnanga
Mission Statement | To provide high quality services to support aspirations of Ngā Papatipu rūnanga by working in partnership
Te Ao Mārama
Incorporated Whakapapa
Ngāi Tahu ki Murihiku formed an entity known as Te Ao Mārama Incorporated, which is made up of representatives from Waihōpai Rūnaka, Te Rūnanga o Awarua, Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka and Hokonui Rūnaka.
Te Ao Mārama Incorporated is authorised to represent the four Southland Papatipu Rūnanga in Resource Management Act and Local Government Act matters and is an avenue for iwi liaison for resource management local government in Murihiku.
Te Ao Mārama Incorporated employs a Kaupapa Taiao Kaiwhakahaere and other dedicated staff, and is essentially a business unit providing a direct link to local Rūnanga Papatipu, consent applicants, the local authorities and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.
The
Board
The Te Ao Mārama Incorporated Board is made up of appointed members from each of the rūnanga. Together these governors provide direction to Te Ao Mārama and ensure overall governance of the organisation.
Gail Thompson
Chair | Awarua Rūnaka
Terry Nicholas
Hokonui Rūnaka
Evelyn Cook
Waihopai Rūnaka
Stewart Bull
Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka
Kaimahi
Dean Whaanga
Kaupapa Taiao Kaiwhakahaere
Meriani Pile
Kaiwhakahaere Tari
Renee Bull
Kaitohutohu Taiao
Margaret Ferguson
Kaikawe Mahere a Rohe
Nikki McRobie
Kaikawe Tikanga a Iwi
Stevie Rae Blair
Kaitohutohu Kaupapa Taiao
Riria Cairns
Kaitohutohu Taiao
Rebecca Blyth
Kaikawe Mahere a Iwi
Angie Hopkinson
Mana Whenua Emergency Facilitator
The Charter of Understanding
He Huarahi mō Ngā Uri Whakatapu - A Pathway for the Generations Coming Through
To help promote and develop its relationship with Māori, Environment Southland together with six other local authorities in Southland/Otago, signed with Te Ao Marama Inc the Charter of Understanding He Huarahi mō Ngā Uri Whakatapu - A Pathway for the Generations Coming Through .
The revised Charter was re-signed by all the parties at Hokonui rūnanga marae on 7 March 2016. The Charter of Understanding provides:
the basis for an ongoing relationship between the seven councils and the tangata whenua of Murihiku to assist in developing the capacity of Māori to contribute to decision-making processes
a foundation for consultation on a wide range of local government issues
for the recognition and willingness of Te Ao Marama Inc to assist all councils in consultation with all ngā matawaka (other Māori who are not Ngāi Tahu) living in Murihiku. This is important in terms of Māori contribution to decision making in the Southland region, particularly as the responsibilities of the Council under the Local Government Act in relation to Māori are with all Māori, not solely the local iwi.
The Charter is based on a co-management model, and is unique in the South Island. It sets out the basis and conduct of the councils and rūnanga in the context of the Local Government Act 2002 and Resource Management Act 1991, and provides the basis for Māori to contribute to the decision-making process via Te Roopu Taiao.