July 24, 2013
Māori ambitions aired
Local Government New Zealand’s annual conference has heard that treaty settlements are changing the relationship between Māori and councils.
John Forbes, the chair of its Māori committee, says Māori are important partners in the governance of communities, but there is no standard template that will fit all circumstances for how the relationship should work.
Speakers at a session on the issues said Māori now want more than an advisory role, with co-management of significant natural resources now the aim of many post-settlement iwi.
Katairana Belshaw from Bay of Plenty Regional Council says the success of co-governance arrangements will depend on the quality of the under-lying relationships.
Her council has negotiated protocols with Ngāi Tūhoe as part of that iwi’s settlement, and Tūhoe is trying to work with the other 14 councils in its rohe to standardize rules and processes.
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