February 25, 2014
Board works on despite court case
The chair of Auckland’s Independent Maori Statutory Board is looking forward to the resolution of a court case on the board’s membership so it can concentrate on getting more for Maori out of the Auckland Council.
A High Court judge has reserved her decision after two days of argument about whether the 19-member appointment body of mana whenua representatives followed the right procedure in appointing the two maataa waka members who represent Maori from tribes outside the super city.
The challenge comes from Manukau Urban Maori chair Willie Jackson.
Mr Taipari says the case means the member chose, Tony Kake, can’t be appointed to any council committees.
"Some of us are doing a little bit more than if we were all appointed and I’m taking responsibility as chair to offset that extra little workload and at the moment because it’s been early in the new council it hasn’t been a major constraint," he says.
The Independent Maori Statutory Board has been reviewing its strategic priorities and trying to pin the council down on what it is actually spending on Maori.
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