Hon Carmel Sepuloni Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage
Hon Kiri Allan
Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage
AIDE MEMOIRE: WAITANGI WEEK 2023 ARTS, CULTURE AND
HERITAGE EVENTS
Date:
26 January 2023
Priority:
Medium
Security
Sensitive
Reference: AM23/006
classification:
Contacts:
Polly O’Brien, Manager Heritage Policy,
9(2)(a)
Laura Forrest, Senior Policy Adviser,
9(2)(a)
Purpose
1
Waitangi Week presents a critical opportunity to come together at the birthplace
of the nation. As the place where the Treaty of Waitangi was first signed, it is our
most significant national heritage site. 2023 marks the 183rd anniversary of Te
Tiriti o Waitangi.
2
This joint aide memoire provides information to support your attendance at key
meetings and events during Waitangi Week 2023, and advice on matters of
relevance to the arts, culture and heritage portfolio that may be raised with you.
3
Te Arawhiti - the Office for Māori Crown Relations (Te Arawhiti) is coordinating
advice to you and relevant Ministers on behalf of the Minister for Māori Crown
Relations, the Hon Kelvin Davis, and will provide a full calendar of Waitangi Week
events and a run sheet.
Key Events
4
As Arts, Culture and Heritage Ministers, you are scheduled to attend a number of
events at Waitangi from 1-6 February 2023.
5
Events with particular relevance to the arts, culture and heritage portfolio are:
Event
Relevant
Date
Time
Venue
Minister
Waitangi National
Minister
TBC
TBC
Waitangi
Trust Board
Sepuloni
Treaty
meeting
Grounds
Boardroom
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Event to mark the
Minister
Friday
3 1.30pm
– Clendon
Clendon Papers’
Sepuloni and February
3.00pm
House,
inclusion into the
Minister Allan
Rawene
UNESCO Register
of the Memory of
the World
6
The following Manatū Taonga officials will also be at Waitangi to provide advice
as required:
Laulu Mac Leauanae (Tumu Whakarae | Chief Executive)
Mere-Hēni Simcock-Rēweti (Pou Mataaho o Te Pae Huarewa |
Deputy Chief Executive Māori Crown Relations)
Kartini Havell (Pou Arataki o Te Pae Māpuna | Manager,
Heritage and Taonga)
Shane Bradbrook (Pou Tohu Mātāmua o Te Pae Huarewa |
Principal Advisor, Engagements and Relationships)
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Next steps
7
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8
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Appendices
Appendix 1: Meeting between Minister Sepuloni and Waitangi National Trust Board.
Appendix 2: Waitangi National Trust Board members.
Appendix 3: Suggested Talking Points for Waitangi National Trust Board meeting.
Appendix 4: Event to mark the inclusion of the Clendon Papers in the UNESCO
Register of the Memory of the World.
Appendix 5: Background information on Manatū Taonga initiatives that support ngā
toi Māori and mātauranga Māori.
Polly O’Brien
Manager, Heritage Policy
Date: 26 January 2023
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Appendix 1: Waitangi National Trust Board meeting
9 On X February 2023 the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage is scheduled to
meet with members of the Waitangi National Trust Board (the Trust). Manatū
Taonga understands the Trust will be represented by Board Chair Pita Tipene, [add
representatives here once confirmed]. Manatū Taonga Chief Executive Laulu Mac
Leauanae is available to attend. Laulu Mac met with representatives of the Waitangi
Treaty Grounds on 18 January 2023.
10 Likely issues for discussion at the meeting are:
•
Ongoing impacts of COVID-19 on Waitangi National Trust’s operations
•
Government funding for 2023/24
•
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Impacts of COVID-19 on Waitangi National Trust’s operations
11 A significant proportion of the Waitangi National Trust’s revenue is derived from
admission fees and other trading income from domestic and international visitors.
Prior to COVID-19 the Trust was self-sufficient and under normal circumstances
did not receive any Crown operational funding.
12 The loss of international and domestic visitors due to COVID-19 border
restrictions and changes to Alert Levels since 2020 has significantly impacted the
Trust’s revenue. In 2019 total visitation to the Treaty Grounds was 113,675
compared to 43,088 in 2022 (-62%).
13 The Trust received $4 million as part of the Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage
COVID-19 Cultural Recovery Package in Budget 2020, followed by $3.6 million
for cost pressures through Budget 2021 to ensure Waitangi Treaty Grounds
remain open, and to preserve the cultural assets held at the grounds. In 2022,
the Trust received a further $3 million as part of a grouped 2022/23 Budget
initiative to support the Cultural Sector from the ongoing effects of COVID-19.
14 The Trust has reported a positive rebound in visitor numbers for October and
November 2022, with visitation over the two months representing 80-90% of 2019
visitor numbers, and 53 cruise liners booked for the Bay of Islands between
October 2022 and April 2023.
15 However, while overall visitor numbers are starting to increase, inflationary
pressures are starting to have an impact on retail and wages. The Trust indicated
to Manatū Taonga in November 2022 that due to uncertainty around 2022/23
visitor numbers and ongoing impacts of COVID-19, including on Treaty Grounds
staff, it has set its budget conservatively.
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16 Manatū Taonga has suggested the Trust explores the feasibility of alternative
revenue streams across the 506-hectare Waitangi Estate to fund its operations
and build a more resilient model.
17 The majority of the Waitangi Estate is leased for farming and forestry, with leases
to the hotel, golf club, and other recreational amenities. These leases do not
provide sufficient return to support the operations of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds.
Similarly, the adjacent Waitangi Endowment Forest does not return revenue to
the Trust as originally envisaged.1
9(2)(ba)(i)
Government funding for 2023/24
18 In December 2022 Cabinet approved funding of $3 million for the Waitangi
National Trust as part of the reprioritisation of Manatū Taonga Cultural Recovery
Funding for 2023/24. Given this agreed funding, the initiative for Waitangi
National Trust Board in the Budget 23 process has now been removed.
19 The funding will support the Trust through the ongoing impact of COVID-19
disruptions to travel and tourism and protect the Treaty Grounds and taonga. This
funding is based on the Trust’s revised forecasts and represents a downward
trend in Government funding as the Trust continues to recover from COVID-19
and tourists including cruise passengers return to Waitangi.
20 This $3 million will mean the Waitangi Treaty Grounds will remain open and fully
staffed; the services, taonga and heritage assets will be appropriately managed;
the Trust will not become insolvent; and the Trust will continue to manage
Aotearoa New Zealand’s most important historical site as per its statutory
obligations. This funding will be publicly announced by Minister Sepuloni. Manatū
Taonga will work with the Trust to formalise the funding agreement.
21 Manatū Taonga has also offered to work with the Trust on feasibility work to
investigate alternative revenue streams, with the intention of ensuring the long-
term financial viability of the Treaty Grounds.
Longer-term funding
22
9(2)(ba)(i)
23
9(2)(g)(i)
1 The Waitangi Endowment Act 1932-22 established the adjacent Waitangi Endowment Forest,
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managed on trust by the Crown (DoC), and provides for 50% revenue to the Waitangi National Trust
Board. In practise, the forest does not generate regular revenue for the Trust.
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Appendix 2: Waitangi National Trust Board members
Name
Year
Membership description
appointed
Mr Pita Tipene (Chair)
2016
A member of the family of Maihi Kawiti
Dame Claudia Orange
2021
A person prominent in the life of the
country as a statesman
Hon Kate Wilkinson
2014
A representative of the people, Pākehā
and Māori, living in the South Island
Hon Peeni Henare
2015
A representative of the Māori people
living in the North Auckland peninsula
Ms Jane Fletcher
2016
A member of the Archdeacon Henry
Williams family
Mr Mita Harris
2016
A member of the family of Tāmati Wāka
Nene
Mr Wiremu Puriri
2016
A member of the family of Hōne Heke
Ms Tania Simpson
2017
A member of the family of Pomare
Mr Hugh Cotterill
2017
A representative of the late James
Busby
Willow-Jean Prime
2020
Appointed by the Prime Minister to
represent the Government
Dr Shane Reti
2018
Appointed by the Leader of the
Opposition to represent the
Opposition
Mr David Dunsheath
2018
A representative of the family of the
late Edward Gibbon Wakefield
Ngā Wai-hono-i-te-pō Paki
2020
A representative of the Māori people
living in the North Island south of the
city of Auckland
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Appendix 3: Suggested Talking Points
Hon Carmel Sepuloni, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Meeting with
the Waitangi National Trust
X February 2023, X.00-X.00 am/pm
Waitangi Treaty Grounds: Boardroom
Topic
Talking points
Financial position of the
Ngā mihi ki a tātou. I appreciate you taking the time to
Waitangi National Trust
meet with me today, and for hosting us.
and ongoing impacts of
It is a privilege to be here this week to mark the 183rd
COVID-19
anniversary of the signing of Te Tiriti. Waitangi is the
birthplace of the nation, and our most significant
national heritage site.
The Trust, established under the Waitangi National
Trust Board Act 1932, is symbolic of the Crown Māori
Treaty Partnership commemorated each year during
Waitangi Week.
Thank you for keeping my officials at Manatū Taonga
updated on the Trust’s financial situation. I’m
reassured that the Trust is in a better financial position
and visitor numbers are tracking well.
I appreciate the financial constraints you have been
under and that the pandemic has had a significant
impact on operations, including staff illness.
It’s great news that cruise ship numbers are steadily
increasing, but I acknowledge that it’s early days and
there is still considerable uncertainty in forecasting.
I understand Manatū Taonga has communicated its
interest in supporting you to investigate the feasibility
of alternative revenue streams. Would you be willing
to work with Manatū Taonga on this?
It would be helpful to hear how you think the Trust and
Manatū Taonga can best work together on this, and
what inputs may be required.
Cabinet agreed funding
Thank you for your support with the budget bid. I’m
very pleased Cabinet has agreed to reprioritise some
of the unspent COVID-19 funding to the Waitangi
National Trust Board and having this assured funding
to support you through the ongoing effects COVID-19
has had on the Trust’s operations.
The $3 million of funding will support the Waitangi
National Trust Board through the ongoing impact of
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COVID-19 disruptions to travel and tourism and
protect the Treaty Grounds and taonga.
It is heartening and significant that this funding will
help ensure the Waitangi Treaty Grounds remain open
and the Trust will continue to manage Aotearoa New
Zealand’s most important historical site as per its
statutory obligations.
Manatū Taonga is keen to continue to work with you
through the next stages of the process.
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