December 08, 2014
Maori Council report opens door for urbans
The chair of the New Zealand Maori Council says a new Waitangi Tribunal report confirms Maori have legitimate ways of organising themselves other than just as iwi.
The council went to the tribunal to challenge the way the government was rewriting the Maori Community Development Act without involving the council.
Te Puni Kokiri also cut district Maori councils out of managing Maori wardens, as the Act requires them to do.
Sir Taihakurei Durie says a review of the Act was overdue, but it must be led by Maori.
He says it’s significant the tribunal pointed that Maori autonomy could be represented now not only by the council but also by both corporate iwi and urban authorities.
"Most Maori are now living in urban areas and most of our wardens are operating out of cities. We really need to recognise that change. This report has huge potential for organisations like Waipareira and the Manukau Urban Maori Authority because these bodies too could become the community to whom Maori wardens should report," he says.
Sir Taihakurei Durie says the Maori Council intends to start its own review of the Maori Community Development Act after its elections in June.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH SIR TAIHAKUREI DURIE CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjQ3ODk=
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