March 25, 2019
Hastings considers Māori on committees
Hastings voters could have a few months to assess whether having appointed Māori members on council committees will improve the way the district is governed.
Hastings District Council will this week consider a proposal to appoint qualified members of its Māori Joint Committee tangata whenua representatives to its four standing committees.
The committee had earlier decided against trying to introduce Māori wards.
The arrangements would be reviewed after October's local government election.
Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst says Māori participation could bring a broader perspective to how the council evaluates issues and improve the quality of its decisions.
She says other councils across New Zealand have introduced similar models and have seen significant benefits resulting in better partnerships with iwi and greater community engagement.
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