Māori and local government partner to strengthen our communities

While the relationship between Māori and the Crown attracts media attention and public debate, the relationship between Māori and councils around Aotearoa is growing in importance, especially as Iwi and Hapu conclude their Treaty Settlements. This was the view expressed by speakers at “Paddling our waka – a shared compass?” a session held at today’s Local Government New Zealand conference in Hamilton.

“Maori are important partners in the governance of our communities,” said LGNZ Vice President and Maori Committee Chair, John Forbes. However, there is no standard template that will fit all circumstances when it comes to building good relationships.

A key theme arising from the session included how Treaty settlements are changing the context within which Maori local government relationships are occurring.

Maori are seeking more than an advisory role, and are looking for a place in the decision-making process. Co-management was one way of ensuring Maori participate with councils and other stakeholders in making decisions about significant natural resources.

The success of co-governance arrangements depends on the quality of the under-lying relationships. “The recent protocols negotiated between Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Tuhoe Iwi only occurred because the council and Iwi had established good relationships,” said Katairana Belshaw, Manager of Strategic Engagement at Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

The protocol, however, was the beginning not the end of the process. Councils in the area are also working with Tuhoe to standardise their rules and processes as they apply across the Tuhoe rohe, which covers parts of 14 different councils.

A number of questions were asked as to whether the Independent Maori Statutory Board, established alongside the Auckland Council, could be applied in other cities and districts. David Taipari, Chair of the statutory board, stated he believed the principles were very appropriate but that the structures might need to be adapted depending on the circumstances of different communities.

Speakers at the session included Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Strategic Engagement Manager, Kataraina Belshaw; the Chair of the Independent Māori Statutory Board, David Taiparia; the Group Manager, Waikato Raupatu River Trust, Julian Williams; Hastings District Councillor, Jacoby Poulain; and South Taranaki District Councillor, Bonita Bigham.

#ENDS#

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