<p>The final Iwi Chairs&rsquo; Forum for the year was held in early December in Arahura. &nbsp;Te Ranga Tupua (a collective of iwi leaders from Ng&#257;ti Hauiti, Ng&#257;ti Whitikaupeka, Ng&#257;ti Tamak&#333;pere, Ng&#257;i Te Ohuake, Ng&#257;ti Rangi, Ng&#257;ti Apa, Whanganui and Ng&#257; Rauru) arrived in Hokitika by road on 2 December 2015 after flights over from Christchurch were cancelled. &nbsp;A large national contingent of 90 + iwi representatives from across Aotearoa congregated at the Ng&#257;ti Waewae marae on the morning of 3rd December 2015 and were welcomed by the marae wh&#257;nau.&nbsp; A spectacular sight indeed &ndash; only in Ng&#257;i Tahu! &nbsp;</p>

<p>Whakauae&rsquo;s Dr Amohia Boulton and Ngareta Patea were amongst the iwi representatives present supporting Ng&#257;ti Hauiti Iwi leaders, Neville Lomax. &nbsp;Richard Steedman also attended representing Ng&#257;ti Whitikaupeka and is also part of the Wh&#257;nau Ora Technical Advisory Group.</p>

<p>The Forum is an organised opportunity for sharing knowledge and information among the tangata whenua of Aotearoa. &nbsp;It is hosted by different marae throughout the country every quarter. &nbsp;From time to time, iwi leaders invite Crown representatives, Members of Parliament, other stakeholders and community groups to present on projects and issues of concern to iwi.&nbsp; The December hui, for example, welcomed Ministers Flavell, Smith and Dunn as well as representatives from the Ministry of Education. Alongside the Iwi Chairs Forum, a rangatahi forum meets to focus on matters pertinent to youth and to support iwi leadership succession.</p>

<p>The two day deliberations were intense an iwi leaders spoke about pressing matters affecting iwi within their own tribal boundaries as well as across Aotearoa.&nbsp; Kaupapa considered included fresh water, climate change, Wh&#257;nau Ora, education and the establishment of a new partnership group.&nbsp; The next Forum is to be held in the far north to coincide with Waitangi Day 2016.</p>
