The region is presenting a united front as it looks to accelerate the recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle.
Seven chief executives from leading organisations in Tairāwhiti signed a Statement of Unity on Tuesday.
The statement was from the four mandated iwi organisations, (Rongowhakaata Iwi Trust, Tāmanuhiri Tūtū Poroporo Trust, Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki Trust and Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou), Gisborne District Council, Eastland Group and Trust Tairāwhiti.
The statement confirms approval for a unified Tairāwhiti recovery plan which was submitted yesterday to the Cyclone Recovery Unit — the lead central government agency within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The four main principles that underpin the Statement of Unity are:
1. Respect for the roles and responsibilities of each entity and the people they represent;
2. Confirming that where entities are directly affected, that they are active participants in all decision-making processes and any implementation that results from these decisions;
3. The individual Recovery Plans of each organisation are respected; and
4. Consideration being given by all entities to the importance of economic, social, cultural and environmental implications and impacts for the region are addressed in a manner that is consistent with the interests of all parties.
“The Statement of Unity and the Tairāwhiti Recovery Plan were unanimously supported at the Te Aitanga a Mahaki AGM held (on Thursday) night,” said Willie Te Aho, chief executive for Te Aitanga a Mahaki.
“It would be fair to say that our people were amazed and some even shocked. But everyone agreed that this unified approach to recovery in Tairāwhiti is critical as our region strives towards achieving a resilient, safe, connected and protected Tairāwhiti,” he said.
Trust Tairāwhiti and Eastland Group also unanimously supported the consolidated Tairāwhiti recovery plan through their respective boards yesterday. And Ngai Tamanuhiri and Rongowhakaata today.
A recovery plan submitted by the council last month requested $555 million of immediate Government funding and a further $613m to build resilience into the future to ensure communities are safe and protected.
“Tairāwhiti’s long-term recovery from the cyclones of early 2023 depends on a climate-resilient rebuild, which can only be realised through a substantial financial investment from Central Government over the medium to long term” said Richard Searle, acting chief executive for Trust Tairāwhiti. The seven chief executives all agreed that the region has a huge job ahead.
“It’s important to us for our community to know that our seven entities are working together. Our region needs an efficient and cohesive rollout of all the resources and support that will be invested in our region by central government” said council chief executive Nedine Thatcher Swann.
The collective of chief executives will be meeting with the Cyclone Recovery Unit next week to discuss the next steps. The intention is to confirm the level of investment next month and have the relevant contracts signed off in September 2023.
The council recovery plan covered four areas:
■ Built environment (covers transport, water, solid waste and flood protection infrastructure, community facilities, emergency response and clean-up);
■ Natural environment (covers assessments and analysis, environment-enhancing programmes);
■ Social environment (covering community engagement resources, housing navigation services and employment and retention training); and
■ Economic environment (covers cost recoveries, crop losses, infrastructure costs).
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