It was a magical moment at council on Tuesday afternoon, when members of Te Rūnaka o Waihopai broke into waiata following the appointment of Mike Bain.

Mike was appointed Pou Manawhenua– Waihōpai Rūnaka on the Water, Infrastructure and Growth, Community and Regulatory and Invercargill District Licensing Committees.

The Invercargill City Council invited Waihōpai Rūnaka and Te Rūnaka o Awarua to advise whom they wish to appoint onto the committees this term. 

Te Rūnaka o Awarua have pulled their representation from the Invercargill City Council, and wants the position disestablished.

But councillors decided on Tuesday to put the mana whenua seat from Awarua into abeyance for the 2025-2028 term.. 

In a letter to council in February, Te Rūnaka o Awarua general manager Andria Cross said, 

“We believe the city council established and maintained these positions in good faith, for which we are sincerely grateful. We hope these positions enhanced dialogue between the city council and Te Rūnaka o Awarua and added value to our community. 

“However, our view is that there are more cost-effective ways by which Awarua can communicate and collaborate with the council as required. In other words, our relationship did not begin when these roles were created and will not end with their dissolution. 

“We therefore look forward to continuing to engage constructively with councillors and council staff in areas of mutual interest and aspiration.”

Waihōpai Rūnaka suppported Matua Bain with his appointment, and said it was a huge honour to be there, and they were looking forward to forging a better relationship with council moving forward.

Matua Bain has a breadth of experience across the motor trade, education, and legal sectors, and and is also representing the Rūnaka on a number of community-based Komiti, including on the Te Unua Iwi Advisory Group. 

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