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The chair of Ngati Kahungunu Inc is urging iwi members to consider the wider needs of their iwi when they vote on amalgamating councils through the Hawkes Bay.
Ngahiwi Tomoana says debate on the Local Government Commission proposal to bring together four district councils and the regional council has been dominated by the long-standing antipathy between Napier and Hastings.
He says other communities such as Wairoa and Central Hawkes Bay have other things they could gain or lose through having fewer councils.
Mr Tomoana says with 11 local and three regional authorities in its rohe, Ngati Kahungunu advocates a move to greater kotahitanga.
"Twenty five to 30 years ago we decided to try to align all those local authorities to the iwi boundary rather than doing 11 annual plans, 11 long term plans and 11 environmental plans and so on and so forth, it was more efficient as one iwi to deal with one council. That hasn’t come to fruition yet but here is an opportunity for it to happen," he says.
Mr Tomoana says the amalgamation debate is probably evenly split, and Maori could have a real impact if they turn out and vote.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH NGAHIWI TOMOANA CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MzE4NTc=
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