Ngāti Ruanui and South Taranaki District Council Sign Landmark Partnership Agreement

In a demonstration of local unity, Ngāti Ruanui and the South Taranaki District Council signed a Mana Whakahono ā Rohe (resource management agreement) on Wednesday. The pact, signed in South Taranaki, formalises the role of mana whenua in regional planning and environmental stewardship, despite impending legislative changes from the central government. Rachel Arnott, pou whakahaere for Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui, described the signing as an act of local commitment built on mutual respect. While acknowledging that the agreement may face challenges under proposed Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms, Arnott noted the deal reflects an unwavering commitment to the South Taranaki community and the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The agreement is designed to create a flexible partnership that reduces uncertainty in regional planning. South Taranaki Mayor Phil Nixon emphasised that the council chose to move forward with the iwi in good faith. According to Nixon, the council values working alongside iwi for environmental improvements and sees the agreement as a way to show respect for the existing relationship. The new pact aligns with He Pou Tikanga, an established partnership framework between the council and the district’s four iwi. Ngāti Ruanui manager Graham Young highlighted the practical benefits of the collaboration, noting that the iwi contributes mātauranga, tikanga, and kaitiakitanga to the process. Young stated that involving the right people early in the planning stages brings essential community knowledge and expertise to the table, allowing the council’s statutory responsibilities and the iwi’s roles to work in tandem. The move follows similar efforts by neighbouring Ngāti Maru, as Taranaki leaders continue to prioritise local cooperation for the benefit of the region's natural resources.