Bill Harris
One of the first Māori to serve on a Waipā District Council committee has stood down as Ngāti Apakura Rūnanga Trust chair.
A statement on the trust’s website confirmed Bill Harris resigned at the end of November – just weeks out from 160th Rangiaowhia commemorations being planned next month.
“Trustees have met,” the statement said, “and appointed a new executive committee.
“Orrin Kapua will step up as chair, George Griggs has accepted the role as deputy chair and Julia
Martin is continuing as financial officer”.
Calls by The News to both Kapua and Harris for comment were not immediately returned on Monday.
Griggs though told The News it was a privilege to be chosen for his new role.
At the same time Harris resigned as chair, trust secretary Erina Stockman resigned as trust secretary.
The trust statement said both resignations had been accepted “with great reluctance”.
“We gratefully acknowledge the long commitment through leadership and hard work both have given.
They can take pride in their roles.”
Some “wonderful milestones” had been achieved during Harris and Stockman’s tenure, the statement said, including negotiations with Te Arawhiti on land at 61 Rangiaowhia Rd which resulted in it being returned to the iwi.
Some of the new executive’s key priorities, the trust statement said, are to work with trustees to deliver on Ngāti Apakura Rūnanga Trust’s 10-year strategic plan and the 160th commemorations at Rangiaowhia.
On February 21, 1864, British soldiers attacked Rangiaowhia village, four kilometres east of Te Awamutu.
At that time the community had been an industrious centre of agriculture – exporting food around the country as well as to Australia.
Harris has been a driving force behind the resurrection of the Alpha Hotel in Kihikihi, a move helped greatly by the benevolence of its owner, former politician Arthur Anae who is based in Auckland.
The project has seen the Alpha given a new lease on life through a steady as she goes work project
which ultimately aims to turn the hub into a community centre.
In August, Harris was named as one of three mana whenua Te Kanohi representatives on the Waipā District Council.
He sits on the Strategic Planning and Policy Committee.
Te Kanohi representatives sit on council’s Strategic Planning and Policy, Service Delivery, Finance
and Corporate and Regulatory committees.
Each has voting rights on their committee.
Harris – who is of Ngāti Apakura, Ngāti Maniapoto and Pare Te Kawa descent – has previously also been on council’s Service Delivery Committee.
Harris has stood twice for election to the council’s Māori ward seat.
There is little doubt that during the February 21, 1864 attack atRangiaowhia, soldiers shot Māori
who attempted to surrender – and later returned to loot the village.
Ngāti Apakura and Ngāti Hinetu say terrified villagers fled, a few shot at the troops, and some sheltered in prayer houses.
Some in those houses were gunned down as they tried to get out of the building when it began to burn down and at least seven died inside.
Kihikihi’s Alpha Hotel
