October 26, 2012
Māori board excluded from budget talks
The chair of Auckland’s Independent Māori Statutory Board says it’s important Māori be at the table when the city’s finances are being allocated.
By an 11-10 vote yesterday the council decided to keep discussion of the annual budget to the full council, rather than send it to the strategy and finance committee where board chair David Taipari and John Tamihere have voting rights.
Mr Taipari says there seems to be some morning-after regret about the procedural coup, and he hopes it will be reversed next week.
He says parliament created the opportunity for the board to participate in the council committees, and it is important it is there to highlight Māori issues and Māori outcomes.
Copyright © 2013, Uma Broadcasting Ltd