strategies of resistance to state influence in marae management reconciling tensions between...
TRANSCRIPT
STRATEGIES OF RESISTANCE TO STATE INFLUENCE IN MARAE
MANAGEMENT
Reconciling Tensions Between Community Self-
Determination And
State Authority
What is the nature of the state’s influence on marae?
How do marae strengthen their rangatiratanga in light of this influence?
TWO AUTHORITIES FOR MARAE
MARAE COMMITTEE
EXECUTIVE
THE COMMUNITYSTATE LEGISLATION
MAORI LAND COURT
TRUSTEES
MARAE
SOME DEFINITIONS OF MARAE
Physical complex Complex with a meeting house and marae atea Community gathering place Place for cultural expression Community centre Village Sanctuary
NATIONAL SURVEY OF MARAE
1997
1031 active marae identified nationwide
877 participated in the survey
72% registered under Te Ture Whenua (Maori Land) Act
A MAORI RESERVATION IS …
A block of land … Held in trust … For a specific purpose (eg marae) … For the benefit of a specified group of
people (eg a named hapu or iwi)
LEGISLATION FOR RESERVATIONS
Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993
Maori Reservations Regulations 1994
Administered by the Maori Land Court
MAORI RESERVATIONS
marae church site recreation ground
village site burial ground sports ground
meeting place spring fishing ground
landing place well bathing place
building site timber reserve
catchment area or other source of water supply
place of cultural, historical, or scenic interest
for any other specified purpose
MAIN MANAGEMENT GROUPS
Of the 877 marae surveyed
44% had a current trustees committee 54% had a marae committee
MARAE COMMITTEE COMPRISES …
Members of the marae community and
the marae executive
who are at the marae committee hui
FUNCTION OF THE MARAE COMMITTEE
Day-to-day care of the marae Administration Wider community involvement Development project planning
COMMITTEE AUTHORITY
TRUSTEES
Court appointed Hierarchy of authority Fixed duties
governed by rules Authority to give
commands
MARAE COMMITTEE
Community membership
Hui Kaumatua Kawa Consensus
decisionmaking
OPTIONS FOR RECONCILING AUTHORITY
1. Replace the marae committee with the trustees committee
2. Make a version of the marae committee a sub-committee of the trustees
REINFORCING RANGATIRATANGA
Link trustees committee to the paepae The community handles problems Restrict trustees sphere of influence
REINFORCING RANGATIRATANGA
Link trustees committee to the paepae The community handles problems Restrict trustees sphere of influence Trustees and marae committee have a
perceived hierarchical role
REINFORCING RANGATIRATANGA
Link trustees committee to the paepae The community handles problems Restrict trustees sphere of influence Trustees and marae committee have a
perceived hierarchical role Use marae executive as a bridging
committee
TRUSTEES’ POWERS
Authorize activities Issue permits Call administration meetings Make appointments and employ advisers Apply to the Court for directions
AUTHORIZATION PROCESS FOR ACTIVITIES
TRUSTEES
A formal process of:
1. Written applications
2. Meeting to grant/decline
MARAE COMMITTEE
Logistical consideration at marae committee hui
RECONCILIATION: The marae committee approves activities; the trustees can access the marae committee’s records.
ORGANIZING MEETINGSTRUSTEES Held when necessary Requires a quorum Decision by majority
vote of trustees Record in minute book
MARAE COMMITTEE Held monthly Proceeds with whoever is
in attendance Decisions by consensus Record in minute book
RECONCILIATION: Each committee holds separate meetings with trustees meetings following the regulations. Each handles different issues.
APPOINTMENTS
TRUSTEES
Formal process not required
Decisions by majority vote
MARAE COMMITTEE
Nominations process Election process for
trustees and executive
RECONCILIATION: The marae committee appoints administrative officials based on a three-year term of office and using AGM procedures set out in the Regulations.
OTHER RESERVATIONS REGULATIONS
1. Prepare a charter
2. Display permanent notices
3. Procedures for official complaints to the Court
OTHER RESERVATIONS REGULATIONS
1. Prepare a charter
2. Display permanent notices3. Procedures for official complaints to the
Court
OTHER RESERVATIONS REGULATIONS
1. Prepare a charter2. Display permanent notices
3. Procedures for official complaints to the Court
OTHER RESERVATIONS REGULATIONS
1. Prepare a charter
2. Display permanent notices
3. Procedures for official complaints to the Court
A TRANSITION PHASE FROM TRADITIONAL TO MODERN
Community groups & court appointed committees
Hui & meetings Kaumatua leadership & official authority Kawa & bureaucratic procedures Consensus & majority vote decisionmaking
RESISTANCE TO EROSION OF RANGATIRATANGA
Existing marae committees The paepae and trustees committee link Community problemsolving Restricting the trustees sphere of
influence Perceived hierarchical management
structure Marae executive as a bridging committee
Stand on the back of the Turtle, our mother, and look at the land and wonder what it would have been like if Columbus would have been successful in his pursuit of India and avoided the eastern shore of this continent. Wipe your Indian hands on your Levi jeans, get into your Toyota pick-up. Throw in a tape of Mozart, Led Zeppelin or ceremonial Sioux songs; then throw your head back and laugh - you are a survivor of a colonized people. Paint what you see, sculpt what you feel, and stay amused.
George Longfish