September 06, 2015
Court costs to be covered
Auckland Council has agreed to meet the legal costs of the chair of the appointment panel for its Independent Maori Statutory Board as he fights a challenge to his board’s choice of maata waka representatives.
Tame Te Rangi secured the funds by 9 votes to 7 after threatening to sue the council and individual councillors.
The panel, which is made up of representatives of Auckland’s mana whenua iwi, only comes together every three years.
Mr Te Rangi says the council must meet its costs, including those associated with court action to uphold and defend the selection process.
He is appealing a High Court judgment that found flaws in the process the panel used to turn down broadcaster and Manukau Urban Maori Authority chair Willie Jackson’s bid to represent Maori whose iwi come from outside the super city.
Mr Te Rangi says he’s please the council came to the party on the eve of the appeal being heard, and he won’t comment further.
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