March 23, 2023
Co-governance proven success in right places says PM
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says co-governance has been used successfully for many years without any issues and isn’t the controversy some are trying to make it.
The Waikato River Authority has used a co-governance model since it was set up more than a decade ago, with five iwi and five government representatives making decisions by consensus to manage and clean up the river.
Mr Hipkins says that’s just one of many examples of what could also be called co-management.
“Co-governance arrangements have been used very successfully in a number of treaty settlements, in areas of big significance to Maori, where they’re much more engaged in the decision-making process and it’s achieved some very positive outcomes. So the overall concept of saying, ‘should we involve people in decisions that affect them?’ is one that the government absolutely stands behind,” he says.
Mr Hipkins says the Government is still working on the best way to give affected communities a say in the three waters infrastructure reform.