Judd and Fox presenting at Māori Governance Hui on 31 May 2015

New Plymouth Mayor Andrew Judd and Māori Party Co-leader Marama Fox are the latest to join an exciting line up of speakers and presenters attending this weekend’s Te Tatau Pounamu Maori Governance and Representation Conference in Palmerston North.

New Plymouth has been in the headlines recently for the overwhelming vote against Maori Wards in the region.  Mayor Andrew Judd has also made known his own principled stand to lay a complaint with the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues for an issue he believes is fundamentally unfair.

"The reasonable interpretation of the Treaty of Waitangi is that you would have fifty-fifty representation around the table," says Mr Judd. "We should be incorporating the Maori perspective around council tables, and ultimately that would mean up to half the representation each." 

He will be joined by Colleen Tuuta to discuss their experience with establishing Maori Wards in New Plymouth and what other communities can learn from their experience.

Marama Fox has being protesting against the forced closure of Aboriginal Communities and has been cautioning the Government and community on the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement highlighting the negative impacts this will have not only on Maori but New Zealanders as a whole.  Mrs Fox will give the opening keynote address at the Conference.

Fair and equitable representation will be a key highlight of the conference, providing an opportunity to listen to leaders at the forefront of promoting active partnership with Maori.  The hui will also be highly interactive, providing participants various opportunities to network and discuss issues with speakers and attendees.

This weekend’s speakers include: Joris De Bres (Former Human Rights Commissioner), Doug Leeder (Chair of the Eastern Bay of Plenty Council)  Moana Jackson (Indigenous Rights Advocate and Lawyer), Tipa Mahuta, (Councillor Waikato Regional Council), Teanau Tuiono (Activist and Entrepreneur), Dr Whatarangi Winiata, Te Rangikaheke Bidois (Te Arawa Councillor), Melanie Shadbolt (Lincoln University Researcher and Te Waipounamu District Maori Council Chair) Veronica Tawhai (Massey University Lecturer), Mike Reid (Local Government NZ) Tame Te Rangi (Ngati Whatua and Tuhoronuku Representative) Haami  Piripi.(Te Runanga o Te Rarawa Chairman).

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