A-Infos (en) Aotearoa (New Zeland), Anarchist journal Imminent rebellion #9 - Lake Waikaremoana: Back in Tuhoe Hands by Val

On 1 January, Tuhoe welcomed people from around Aotearoa to celebrate the 10 
year anniversary of the occupation at Lake Waikaremoana. The celebration began 
with a powhiri at Waimako Marae and then moved down to the original lakeside 
site of the occupation, adjacent to the motor camp. ---- The celebration was 
attended by members of the Tuhoe nation from around the rohe and by anarchists 
and members of Conscious Collaborations, an indigenous collective striving for a 
world that acknowledges Papatuanuku (Earthmother) by building synergies between 
indigenous, activist, and creative communities. ---- The gathering was held in 
the aftermath of the police raids into Tuhoe country on 15th October 2007 
resulting in the arrest of Tame Iti, spokesperson for Te Mana Motuhake o Tuhoe 
and 16 others.

When the gathering was organised in mid-2007, it was certainly about 
commemorating this past struggle. However, the October raids had a profound 
effect on the gathering, and subsequent police disclosure of evidence reveals 
that one of the motivations for 'Operation Eight' was very clearly about who 
owns this lake and the water in it.

Ten years ago, there were two different groups that had longstanding issues with 
the management of the lake: Nga Tamariki o te Kohu (the children of the mist) 
and Ruapani, led by Waipatu Winitana. Their aims were complementary, but not 
identical. Nga Tamariki o Kohu was concerned about the proximity of an oxidation 
pond to the lake and the overflow hose, with its potential to leak; the decline 
of kiwi habitat and population in the areas around the lake; the impact of 
possums on native fauna; the impact of deer and pigs on forest regeneration; and 
finally, the impact of tourists on the ecosystem of the Lake.

On the other hand, Ruapani's primary issue concerned the Department of 
Conservation's (DoC) management of the lakebed. By a Deed of Lease signed on the 
21st day of August 1971, nine leading Kaumatua: Sir Turi Carroll, John Rangihau, 
Wiremu Matamua, Turi Tipoki, Te Okanga Huata, Canon Rimu Hamiora Rangihu, Tikitu 
Tepono, William Waiwai, Kahu Tihi together with (now) Mr Justice Gallen signed a 
lease to the Crown of 5,210 hectares (12,875 acres) comprising the bed of Lake 
Waikaremoana, the islands in that lake but excluding Patekaha Island and 
including the present foreshore above the 2020 foot contour in terms of Kaitawa 
Datum. The lease provided:

     * for an initial term of 50 years from 1st July 1967 with a perpetual right 
of renewal;
     * rental at the rate of $5.50 per centum per annum on the rental value to 
be fixed by ten yearly valuation and, if necessary, arbitration;
     * the lessee is to administer control and maintain the leased land in 
accordance with the provisions of the (now) National Parks Act 1980; and
     * access from continuous Maori Reserves to the lake's waters was reserved 
at all times as was a right of access from the Maori Reserves to the Wairoa 
Rotorua Road at a point to be mutually agreed between the parties.1

Under the terms of the lakebed lease, the Department was responsible for 
maintaining the lakebed in a pristine condition. Despite this clause, there were 
significant problems with giardia and invasive weeds in the lake.

After considerable discussion, members of Nga Tamariki o te Kohu decided that an 
occupation was the most effective way of getting these issues addressed. Many 
within Nga Tamariki o te Kohu felt that the Department of Conservation was not 
hearing their concerns. On the 31st of December 1997, approximately 20 people 
entered the site and prepared to occupy.

Some kaumatua had concerns about the way in which the decision to undertake the 
occupation was taken, e.g. that not all kaumatua had been advised that it was 
going to happen; ultimately, they were supportive of the aims of the action and 
keen to have the issues addressed. One elder, John Tahuri of Maungapohatu came 
from his hospital bed to support the occupation and subsequently left his 
tokotoko (talking stick) with the occupation as a sign of his support.

There were initial confrontations with police when they attempted to remove 
people from the site. Many of the younger members who provided security at the 
entrance to the occupation site simply told the police to bugger off as Tuhoe 
were on their own land.

During the course of the occupation, the then Minister of Maori Affairs, Tau 
Henare invited Tame Iti, who was the spokesperson for Nga Tamariki o te Kohu to 
Parliament in order that the issues of concern could be addressed.

Tame Iti travelled to Wellington in order to meet with Henare. He was, however, 
initially rebuffed when he arrived and was not given permission to enter the 
minister's office. Henare's actions were shameful and eventually Tame was 
successful in getting into see him. The minister agreed to hold a ministerial 
enquiry into the issues raised if the group agreed to vacate the lakeshore 
occupation.

After 67 days, the group decamped from the occupation site. The ministerial 
enquiry was held at Waimako Marae. It was, as can be expected from any such 
bureaucratic exercise, a total whitewash. "Nothing that we heard caused us to 
come to the view that the Department of Conservation was failing in its 
obligations to the two Trust Boards, as lessor, in its role as lessee in the 
management of the land as if it were a National Park."2 Nevertheless, the 
occupation was considered a success. In spite of the total denial of the 
validity of the issues raised, the occupation achieved some significant changes 
to the Department of Conservation's management of the Lake including:

     * an improvement of the relationship between tangata whenua and the 
Department of Conservation insofar as the Department viewed its responsibilities 
to Tuhoe more seriously
     * the oxidation pond was decommissioned and as of 2007 a new one is being 
constructed with the input of local iwi
     * management of kiwi habitat programme on Tapuna Reserve is completely 
controlled by local iwi

More significantly than the immediate results of the occupation was a 
strengthening of the iwi's desire for a return of control over the Lake. 
Naturally, Lake Waikaremoana forms a part of the Tuhoe claim under the Treaty of 
Waitangi settlement process. The occupation began a conversation about the need 
to have a permanent presence on the Lake again.

. . . . .

The last permanent settlement of Tuhoe on the Lake was likely at Tapuna Reserve 
in about 1940. The scorched earth policy where British soldiers invaded Tuhoe 
territory in the bitter cold of winter, burning crops, pillaging, murdering and 
leaving the people to starve in the 1860s was and is very much alive in the 
minds of Tuhoe people. Many members of the local iwi had left the Lake area 
fearing further Pakeha retribution. Te Ara, the Online Encylopedia of New 
Zealand, notes:

     * Old enemies of Tuhoe fought on the side of the government; they carried 
out most of the raids into Te Urewera during a prolonged and destructive search 
between 1869 and 1872. In a policy aimed at turning the tribe away from Te 
Kooti, a scorched earth campaign was unleashed against Tuhoe; people were 
imprisoned and killed, their cultivations and homes destroyed, and stock killed 
or run off. Through starvation, deprivation and atrocities at the hands of the 
government's Maori forces, Tuhoe submitted to the Crown.3

Given this experience and the subsequent invasion of Maungapohatu by armed 
constabulary in 1916, it is hardly surprising that many Tuhoe people have been 
wary of reestablishing a presence on the Lake.

The people at the occupation and at this 10-year celebration have committed 
themselves to the construction of a marae at the Lake. Citing Te Arawa, Nga 
Puhi, and Tuwharetoa as examples, James Waiwai a member of the original 
occupation noted that most other iwi have a presence at their respective lakes. 
It is a natural place for the tangata whenua to be as kaitiaki (guardians) of 
the lake and the surrounding land. The exact location of the marae will need to 
be the subject of consultation with people around the Lake, but the celebration 
gave new impetus to the desire to get on with its construction.

The other result of the occupation was a cementing of the desire for a full 
return of the Lake to Tuhoe control. Lake Waikaremoana is Maori freehold hand 
and is acknowledged as such by the 1971 Lake Waikaremoana Act. It is for the 
moment largely under the control of the Crown. The Department of Conservation is 
aware of the desires of Tuhoe for return of control of the Lake.

. . . . .

The celebration of the occupation at New Year's 2008 was initiated by Tame Iti 
in mid-2007. He and other members of Nga Tamariki o te Kohu wanted not only to 
commemorate the struggle for Tuhoe control of the Lake, but wanted to share the 
history and expand the support for the independence of the Tuhoe people.

Initially, the celebration was received with support from the local Department 
of Conservation. However, following the nation-wide police raids on 15 October, 
the arrests of Tame Iti and other Tuhoe activists along with the allegations of 
terrorism, there was a decided cooling of support from DoC.

After a rousing call to action by Tame Iti in which he invited 'freedom fighters 
and comrades' to the celebration, the local organising group was told to shut it 
down. They took a decision that if the police or anyone else tried to intervene 
that they would again occupy the site.

Fortunately, the organising crew prevailed and managed to extract the provision 
of toilets, a generator, petrol and wood for a wharekai (kitchen) from the local 
district council for the celebration. Local farmers also contributed food for 
the celebration. Police did surveil the celebration from the motor camp next 
door, but were not seen otherwise.

Over the four days of the celebration, the discussion about anarchist support 
for Tuhoe began. This relationship, born largely as a result of the police 
raids, will take much more talk and action to manifest into genuine trust and 
solidarity. There are many anarchists who want that to happen. There is a need 
for much discussion in the anarchist community of Aotearoa about what such 
support and solidarity actually means.

The achievement of tino rangatiratanga (translated here as 'sovereignty') for 
Tuhoe will happen and with it, will be the return of the Lake to their 
guardianship, from their ancestors and for their children.
Endnotes

The text of this article is based on an interview with James Waiwai (Ngati 
Hinekura, Te Whanau Pani of Tuhoe) on 4 January 2008 at Lake Waikaremoana.

1. Ministry of Maori Affairs: Te Puni Kokiri. 1998. Joint Ministerial Inquiry 
Lake Waikaremoana: Report to Minister of Maori Affairs, Hon Tau Henare, Minister 
of Conservation, Hon Dr Nick Smith. 
(http://www.tpk.govt.nz/publications/docs/lakewaikare.html accessed 7 January 2008)
2. ibid
3. 'Resistance: 1866 to 1872.' Te Ara: the on-line encyclopedia of New Zealand. 
(http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http://www.teara.govt.nz/NewZealanders/MaoriNewZealanders/NgaiTuhoe/5/en 
accessed 7 January 2008)
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