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Download AudioIwi leaders meet with Government ministers including Prime Minister Chris Luxon for the first time since the election at Waitangi this afternoon.
Forum co-chair Rahui Papa says they hope to discuss a whole host of issues that have arisen from the coalition Government’s 100 day action plan and its relationship with Māori.
At the top of the list will be the protection and the sanctity of New Zealand’s founding documents – the Treaty of Waitangi and He Whakaputanga, the 1835 Declaration of Independence.
“The principles within He Whakaputanga remain as they are today and there are a number of iwi, especially the north and Kahungunu and Waikato that ascribe to He Whakaputanga so it is really the mana of those people that is being protected, who because they signed up to the principles of He Whakaputanga and we want to protect those in a modern context,” Mr Papa says.
He says the Iwi Chairs Forum has proved effective as as a place for addressing contentious issues as well as laying the foundation for working relationships between individual iwi government in areas such as housing.
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