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Download AudioThe Iwi Chairs Forum set out its wish list for the year to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in an online presentation this morning.
Willie Te Aho from Te Whānau ā Apanui says over the past couple of days the iwi leaders reported on their main areas of activity and developed a consolidated approach on key issues.
These include the need for extra efforts by iwi and hapū to increase vaccination rates among Māori as the country opens up, the good progress being made in housing pilots, and concern over what is going to replace the Resource Management Act.
He says the pandemic has highlighted the need for social and economic investment for the long term.
“There needs to be a huge step up in the investment in our Māori land and in the investment in our people because we’ve gone through tough times with Covid and if we don’t build that economic resilience now we will be floundering when we come out the other side or even managing our way through this,” Mr Te Aho says.
The forum is being conducted online this year because of Covid restrictions.
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