May 19, 2014
Mana munching spoils committee plan
Northland Regional Councillor Dover Samuels says the Ngapuhi Runanga’s refusal to join a proposed new advisory committee shows it puts mana munching before the interests of its whanau and hapu.
Runanga chair Sonny Tau says the council has stuffed up by putting a seat aside for Ngati Hine on the Tai Tokerau Regional Maori Advisory Committee, because it’s a hapu rather than an iwi.
Mr Samuels says the council is not picking sides in the fight between the Ngapuhi and Ngati Hine Runanga over how historic treaty settlements should be negotiated.
"This is not a statutory connection. It's not a connection that is mandated by the crown. I don't need the crown's mandate and tick off to invite my people at a whanau and hapu level to particpate in regional council affairs that affect them," he says.
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