August 28, 2012
Iwi seek seat at Polynesian Assembly
The Iwi Leaders Group has asked the Polynesian Assembly of Leaders to make a seat at the table for Maori.
A delegation including Tukuroirangi Morgan, Mark Solomon, Herewini Parata and Roger Pikia presented to the assembly in Rarotonga this week ahead of the Pacific Leaders Forum.
Mr Morgan says Rapanui-Easter Island has also asked to join the assembly, which includes Samoa, Tonga, the Cook Islands, Niue, Tuvalu, Tokelau, American Samoa and French Polynesia.
"To have an opportunity to talk to the leaders of those eight countries at the highest level has been fantastic, and we see this as the start of a long term relationship hinged around whakapapa and an earnest desire to do business together," he says
Mr Morgan says the iwi leaders group is also reaching out to Melanesian leaders.