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The Maori Party is accusing critics of a cultural impact clause in Auckland’s Draft Unitary Plan of racism.
The plan identifies 3600 sites around the super city as having cultural significance to Maori, and says any development of them needs a cultural assessment from any affected iwi.
The wording has been attacked by Labour’s Maori spokesperson Shane Jones, who says turning 19 iwi into separate consent authorities isn’t a good idea.
Some of the iwi have also expressed concerns at the vagueness of the plan.
But Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell says some of the reactions to the proposal show that Maori culture, knowledge, and history are still treated as second class.
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