November 17, 2013
Iwi denied voice on council committee
Conservative councillors have blocked moves to have iwi represented on Gisborne District Council’s hearings committee.
Mayor Meng Foon wanted a representative on the committee from each from the region’s two main iwi groups, Turanganui-a-Kiwa and Te Runanganui-o-Ngati Porou, but left the motion on the table because of opposition.
Councillors said the appointees would have to step aside if their iwi had an interest in an application, and they complained about non-elected people being given voting rights on a council committee.
Councillor Manu Caddie says his fellow councillors were willing to accept unelected committee members on other issues, and the council regularly appointed non-elected members.
There are no Maori members on the hearings committee.
He says there seems to be a lot of prejudice against the idea that the council should start thinking like a treaty partner.
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