Affirmation of the age old cooperation between the Western hapu of Ngati Awa, Te Tawera, Hikakino and Te Rangihouhiri II will bring new purpose to the Te Awa a te Atua Tarawera Alliance.  Moves to claim a mandate for the hapu in resource mangement issues without their consent have been brought to a head recently over the Tarawera river agreement signed between the two principal polluters of the river, Carter Holt Harvey Ltd and Norsge Skoge Ltd, and Ngati Awa, Tuwharetoa ki Kawerau and Ngati Rangitihi.  Representatives of the three Ngati Awa hapu have made it clear to affected parties that they retain their own mandate to deal with RMA matters while recognising the role and work of Te Runanga o Ngati Awa.  A formal agreement between the three hapu will be concluded in due course.  An invitation to Taiwhakaea II to join the formal agreement will be also extended as part of the consultation process.