March 15, 2022
Rates relief for unused Māori land in supercity
Auckland Council wants to know what Māori land in the boundaries of the super city is being used for.
The council’s new Annual Plan proposal includes changes to the treatment of Māori land, in line with last year’s changes to Te Ture Whenua Māori Act.
Māori portfolio lead Angela Dalton says the council needs to know which Māori land is undeveloped or unused, and it may need to change its definition of Māori land.
“Council don’t know the status of all Māori land throughout Tāmaki Makaurau so it would be great for people to be able to identify or feedback on this particular policy. The definition could perhaps be expanded, so this will mean we will not charge rates for Māori land that is for non-commercial use,” she says.
Angela Dalton says Auckland Council has also adopted ‘Te Mauri o te Wai as the foundation of its water policies, which will lead to a shift in the way it works with mana whenua.