December 07, 2022
Northland Council opens doors for tangata whenua
Northland Regional Council has confirmed it will continue with Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party, which brings together councillors with 21 appointed iwi and hapū members from across the rohe.
The council is legally required to have three committees; Te Oneroa-a-Tōhē-Board – Joint committee, Civil Defence Emergency Management Committee and a regional transport committee.
There will also be a joint climate change adaptation committee, the Kaipara Moana Remediation Joint Committee, and a Joint Regional Economic Development Committee, all with iwi involvement.
For the first time there will also be independent tangata whenua members appointed to the Investment and Property Subcommittee and Audit and Risk Subcommittee.
Council chair Tui Shortland says this represents another step forward for council in strengthening its commitment to Te Tiriti.
She says the new committee structure makes good use of the talents of all councillors, with greater diversity around the council table leading to strengthened decision making.