June 30, 2014
Promising start for Maori committee
The Northland Regional Council’s Te Taitokerau Maori Advisory Committee has met for the first time at Ngati Hine’s Otiria Marae.
The committee is being boycotted by the Ngapuhi Runanga because Ngati Hine is one of the iwi and hapu to be offered a seat.
Chair Dover Samuels says the fact 100 people turned out for the first meeting on Friday shows the idea has grass roots support.
He says the council wants Maori whanau, hapu and iwi to engage and participate in its processes and decision-making.
The committee should also help it better fulfil its statutory obligations under the Local Government and Resource Management Acts and take account of the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.
Another meeting will be held this month at the council’s Whangarei offices to finalise the committee’s terms of reference and its purpose, mandate, functions and work programme.
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