Monday 5 March

Deputy Mayor calls on Māori to have their say about Wellington’s future

Deputy Mayor Jill Day has called on Maōri to take an active part in the upcoming consultations on Wellington City Council’s Ten-Year Plan.

“The plan is the map for where we want our city to be in ten years’ time. So it is very important that the voice of tangata whenua is heard in the discussion,” Cr Day says.

“We already work very closely with Wellington’s mana whenua iwi entities. Those interactions are guided by He Waka Eke Noa – Effectiveness for Māori framework – and by the MOU we recently signed with the city’s two mandated mana whenua organisations, Taranaki Whānui kit e Upoko te Ika and Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira Incorporated.

“But we also want to hear from all Wellington Māori. We want to know what their priorities and concerns are.”

Key projects for the coming year include Te Tauihu, the te reo Māori policy, which is currently out for consultation.

“If approved, the policy will move into the implementation stage – we’ll be developing an action plan that will help us recognise te reo Māori and support and encourage Māori culture.

“We will also be designing Te Taurapa – a Māori growth strategy which considers building Māori wellbeing and success while also providing benefits for Wellington’s business, arts, culture, tertiary and tourism sectors.

“And there’s the two big celebrations – Matariki and Te Matatini. Both of these will be bigger and brighter than ever.”

Cr Day says the Council also wants to hear from Māori on more general issues.

“There’s a strong theme through this Ten-Year Plan of “people” – as the saying goes he tangata, he tangata, he tangata.

“Right up front, the Ten-Year Plan calls for building a people-centred, connected city where the environment is protected and which is alive, creative and innovative. These are all aspirations that will resonate with Māori.

“Then there are some particular areas where the voice of Māori will help light the way forward – particularly the sections on housing, resilience, managing our impact on the environment, doing better with water management, and growing our Wellington culture.”

“I urge Māori to look out for the consultation, which opens on 15 April, and take the opportunity to help form Wellington’s future,” adds Cr Day.

ENDS

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