July 04, 2017
Initiative brings mass Maori submissions to local board plans
Over 300 submissions from Maori to Auckland Local Board plans have been presented thanks to a tripartite initiative between Iwi groups Tainui, Ngati Whatua ki Orakei and Urban Authority Te Whanau o Wapareira Trust.
Hapai te Hauora on behalf of the T3, actively sought whanau views towards local board plans and the issues brought forward were wide and varied.
Submissions raised concerns ranging from more support for Marae, roading, public transportation and unaffordable housing.
Anthony Hawke from Hapai te Hauora and who led the initiative says the submissions were delivered in person to Auckland Council which prior to becoming a supercity had a history of negligence toward Maori.
" But things have changed in the way they do consultation within the last sevens years of having the supercity structure. You can go to group hui now you don't have to put a submission on paper, you can present orally you can do it as a whanau, they have consultation on Marae, so things are changing. But the way in which they capture and then understand what has been said in a Maori submission has not reached that level yet," says Anthony Hawke
"So our point is you can go and canvas as many Maori as you like, but if you don't have the ability to read or understand what is in the messages behind those words, then it just falls on deaf ears, so we think they should be doing more of that stuff"
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