March 01, 2021
Revived interest in kaupapa-driven Maori Council
There has been a surge of interest in the New Zealand Maori Council’s triennial elections.
Executive director Matthew Tukaki says more than 100 Māori committees have already voted in elections that will continue until mid-March, and committees that have been in recess have stormed back with big meetings and an influx of younger members.
Mr Tukaki, who was reelected chair of the Auckland District Māori Council on Friday, says the council has tried to put the infighting of recent years behind it and focus on issues of immediate concern to Māori.
"We've got 49 kaupapa we're dealing with at the moment, everything from water and health, Oranga Tamariki of course, housing, COVID-19, the economy, jobs, you name it, we haven't been short on coming forward, and I think that's really invigorated the council and also inspired many others to jump on board," he says.
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