November 18, 2022
RMA consultation deficient
An iwi leader is questioning the amount of consultation with Māori over the development of replacement legislation for the 30-year-old Resource Management Act.
The Iwi Chairs Forum has raised concern about the impact of the new bills on their treaty settlements and their rxisting relaitonshis with central and local government.
Ngati Kahungunu chair Bayden Barber says he’s been part of consultation of the Three Waters infrastructure reform and other issues for two years – but despite the RMA potentially having even greater impact for Maori, consultation has been poor.
“I’ve had one meeting that I’ve been in. Where we talked about the RMA reform. We were given a presentation by their engagement person – and basically told what the reform included – and that was pretty much it,” he says.
Bayden Barber