Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu submitted that "while there is still a journey to be completed to full partnership and improved environmental outcomes, the distance that has been travelled since 2010 is significant." "We believe", they said, "that it is in no small measure as a result of this governance relationship, and reinstating direct Ngāi Tahu representation on council will ensure a continuation of that journey to full partnership."—that word again.