December 30, 2012
Iwi back Tai Tokerau council merger plan
Tai Tokerau iwi leaders have joined with the Far North District Council to push for restructuring the region’s local authorities.
Mayor Wayne Brown and representatives of Te Runanga a Iwi o Ngapuhi, Te Runanga o Ngati Hine and other iwi have given the Local Government Commission an application to replace Northland’s three district and one regional council with either two or one unitary authorities.
He says it will reduce bureaucracy and cost.
Tai Tokerau iwi leaders forum chair Rangitane Marsden says the council had shown it was willing to form a strategic alliance with iwi/Maori by creating Maori wards.
The commission is expected to put the proposal out for public comment.
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