Tena Koe Kara I read your comments with interest.I don't believe I know you personally however we share very similar views. I am the teina of George Edwards from the second family of 7 children and we share the same mother.My dad is Bill Palmer and mum is Iti Nore Hei. George shared with me concerns he had with the self elect panel whom consider themselves the mangai for nga Iwi i roto Ngatihine.He did mention the rift that had developed between Ngatihine & Ngapuhi and that there was fragmentation and friction resulting in division. To the extent that Ngatihine would not accept any distribution of funds that they were entitled to. Like you I question the manner in which this call has come about and that a meeting of all Ngatihine people needs to be called to discuss the kaupapa of this intent?In particular since the Rununga o Ngatihine is existing only in principle with no real sound substance to it and only meeting when those considered our leaders in Ngatihine choose to hold such meetings.The reality is that the vehicle that they choose to seek support through are the kaumatua/Kuia hui that are called to discuss specific agenda items. Kaumatua/Kuia are NOT the only voices that need to be heard in Ngatihine, and we all need the opportunity to have our say and not necessarily be told or dictated to as to what is best for our people.In saying this I am pro Ngatihine as an Iwi if that is going to gain us sustainable outcomes for all Ngatihine Iwi. Again the question of whom should have the mandate of Operations and Management needs to be determined as part of the Strategic Plan & Economic direction for Ngatihine.So this should take us back to Te Runanga O Ngatihine in holding an annual general meeting for election of officers and starting again on a clean slate. This will mean reviewing the current Runanga Constitution and making improved changes if any. Determining the structure of the Runanga whom they align to above them and whom they are responsible to below them?  As this Iwi status is motivated by the Fisheries putea then discussion needs to be held on how the Putea is to be distributed in accordance with the longterm goals and objectives of sustainable outcomes. I believe that this is an opportunity for all maori organisations to take ownwership of their direction by putting in place a Strategic Economic Plan that will sustain development for our people in perpetuity. Education is foremost in my thinking from Primary/Secondary through to Adult Education. The plan is to provide Learning Support & Scholarships to advance the education levels of our people into better paid employment.This naturally increases the number of skilled and qualifiedNgatihine Iwi whom can be incorporated into whatever the bigger picture is we have in mind in Ngatihine. We can also support people by financing them into their own viable Businesses that has to be paid back at market rates so that pool of funding is on going.

 We could consider Health awareness activities that are NOT being provided under the current Government health funding. We could look at ways that educate our people on how to become better supportive functional parents to try and reduce/eliminate many of those cyclic issues evident in some whanau. Consideration could be made to spend money in upgrading all Ngatihine Marae but not for general operations. That onus must rest with Marae Committes.  More significantly we need to establish a diverse Commercial Income Portflio that is passive in generating an annual income stream into the Runanga that will contribute towards targeted funding in perpetuity.  I would like to finish on the note that I was informed of a meeting that was privy to an invited few to discuss Iwi status the control of fisheries putea with the view of establishing a seperate entity to do this under?Without being exactly sure what was involved when such discussions are being mooted we need to have grave concerns about the agenda behind this consideration? Noho ora mai