December 11, 2013
Council push-back nixes abolition plan
Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples has backed down from any plans he may have had to abolish the New Zealand Maori Council, but he still has his sights on a takeover of the Maori Wardens.
Dr Sharples announced today there will be no changes made to the Maori Community Development Act 1962 in respect of the New Zealand Maori Council.
That follows September’s round of 20 consultation hui, at which supporters of the resurgent Maori Council made a strong case for its retention.
But he says there were differing views about whether there should be an independent standalone entity to support Maori Wardens, or whether responsibility should remain with district Maori councils.
Further work will be done on the issue next year with key stakeholders.
New Zealand Maori Council co-chair Sir Taihakurei Durie says the announcement won’t stop a Waitangi Tribunal hearing going ahead next week to determine whether urgency should be granted to the council’s claim against the Government’s actions.
He says the warden’s have a historic role as agents of Maori autonomy, and the council won’t stand by and see them taken over by the Crown.
A Te Puni Kokiri spokesperson says the ministry has no intention of making its current administration of the Maori wardens permanent, and next year's consultaiton will be about whether they should be managed through district Maori councils or a new body.
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