October 11, 2018
Hamilton puts Māori voices on council committees
Hamilton City Council has approved Māori appointees to committees in what it says will be the beginning of a new era for partnership-based decision-making for the city.
The five Māngai Māori were chosen from more than 40 applicants by a selection panel of Waikato Tainui, Te Rūnanga o Kirikiriroa and Te Hā o te Whenua o Kirikiriroa.
They are Norman Hill, Bella Takiari-Brame, Te Pora Thompson and James Whetu representing iwi, and Oliver Te Ua representing mātāwaka.
Mayor Andrew King says other councils have expressed interest in the model.
Waikato Tainui executive chair Rukumoana Schaafhausen says she is confident the māngai Māori will advocate an iwi and Māori perspective which will ultimately lead to a much more informed decision-making process.
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