October 08, 2018
Māori advisors chosen for water reform
Māori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta is confident a new Māori advisory group on water will draw widespread support.
The Iwi Leaders Forum refused an invitation to nominate members for Kāhui Wai Māori, which was launched this morning by Environment Minister David Parker as part of a programme of work to improve water quality.
It will be chaired by Kingi Smiler and includes former minister Dover Samuels, Milan Ruka, Annette Sykes, Traci Houpapa, Riki Ellison, Paul Morgan, Jacinta Ruru, Tanira Kingi, James Ataria and Mahina-a-rangi Joy Baker.
It creates an opportunity for Māori to have input into the policy.
"We want to move past kind of the rhetoric and get stuff done in the freshwater area. He's already signalled he is supportive of a catchment-based approach to water management. Obviously there are Maori interests there when it comes to utilisation of land and consenting and allocation so this group is a key body he will take advice from," Ms Mahuta says.
Aims of the programme include getting a noticeable increase in water quality in five years through moves such as a new national policy statement for freshwater management and new rules to control the excesses of some intensive land use practices.
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