Kathryn Ngapo

I te taha o tōku Pāpa
Ko Mataatua te waka
Ko Moehau te maunga
Ko Tīkapa te moana
Ko Hauraki te whenua
Ko Marutūāhu te tangata
Ko Waiheke te motu
Ko Piritahi te marae
Ko Ngāti Porou, ko Ngāti Awa, ko Ngāti Pāoa, ko Tamaterā hoki ōku iwi
Ko Ngāti Pūtoa, ko Ngāti Rākura, ko Harataunga hoki ōku hapū
I te taha o tōku Māma
Ko Mataatua te waka
Ko Whakatere te maunga
Ko Waimā te awa
Ko Ōtatara te marae
Ko Te Māhurehure te hapū, ko Ngāpuhi te iwi
Ko Jim Ngapo tōku Pāpa, ko Minnie Ngapo tōku Māma
Ko Kathryn Ngapo ahau.

My parents and 3 brothers came to Waiheke in 1953 because my Dad got a job here as an inspector of fisheries. I was born here and lived here until I was 60 as it was my place, my territory, where my whānau were, my turangawaewae.

I come back to see my daughter and granddaughter and to oppose the Kennedy Point marina and protect Pūtiki Bay. I have many friends and come back to catch up with them too. I feel part of the whānau of the marae as well and that is important to my sense of belonging. I also love to walk the beaches - some of them I know intimately- like the back of my hand. I love Te Toki Reserve, Wilma Road, Whakanewha - places where there is bush, as well.

I think Ngāti Paoa should ask Auckland Council for land at Rangihoua to build a marae complex. This would be for a peppercorn rental of course and be a gesture of goodwill from the council, as Ngāti Paoa were virtually landless here and throughout Auckland, by the beginning of the 20th century. I think there should be a home/place for old people so they don’t have to leave the island. This could be at the marae but there needs to be a community facility as well.

I think we should lobby to change laws and regulations so Auckland Council will be more responsive to Te Ao Māori rather than just to legislation such as the Resource Management Act. This is so the environment would be better protected. Currently the historic and ecological taonga of Pūtiki is being desecrated by the Kennedy Point marina. The Council should never have allowed the marina in the first instance.