Papa Pounamu Hui
PIGEON VALLEY FIRES RESPONSE
Iwi Involvement in Pigeon Valley Fires Civil Defence Emergency Response
Tuesday 31st March,
Involvement in the response to the Pigeon Valley Fires transformed relationships between eight Te Tau Ihu (Top of the South) iwi, councils, and government agencies in the region and changed the way iwi are included in emergency centre operations and decision making across New Zealand.
The combined response of representatives from Te Tau Ihu (Top of the South) iwi and council and government agencies to the Pigeon Valley fires transformed relationships between these organisations and changed the way iwi are included in emergency centre operations and decision making across New Zealand. In September 2019 the iwi trusts and central and local government organisations involved in the response jointly won the Prime Minister’s first annual Spirit of Service Award for outstanding public service in New Zealand. The awards celebrate world-class leadership, outstanding public services and cross agency initiatives underpinned by a spirit of service. Aroha Gilling and Barney Thomas from the Department of Conservation and Shane Graham from Te Puni Kokiri were some of the key members of the iwi response group. They will share their experiences.
Presenters: Aroha Gilling & Barney Thomas
AROHA GILLING
Kaitiaki Whakatinana Tiriti/Treaty Settlement Ranger, Department of Conservation
Aroha is a Kaitiaki Whakatinana Tiriti/Treaty Settlement Ranger employed by the Department of Conservation and responsible across Te Tau Ihu o te Waka-a-Māui for seeing that DOC is meeting their Treaty settlement obligations, supporting iwi aspirations in conservation and training DOC staff. She has an academic background and came to the Department from the tertiary education sector where she specialised in Te Tiriti o Waitangi education. Aroha is a proud descendant of Te Whānau a Apanui.
BARNEY THOMAS
Pou Tairangahau, Department of Conservation
Barney is the Pou Tairangahau for the Department of Conservation responsible across Te Tau Ihu o te Waka-a-Māui and resides in Nelson. The Pou Tairangahau leads the Department’s work with whānau, hapū and iwi to identify and develop conservation opportunities. He is a Director and member of several boards across the region including Wakatū Inc. Barney is of Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Tama, Te Ātiawa and Ngāi Tahu descent.