February 08, 2024
Call for more transparency from Iwi Chairs
A director of the northern Te Rarawa iwi’s commercial arm says the Iwi Chairs Forum needs to do a better job at communicating what it does.
Dale Stephens says the group is an important lobby for Māori interests, and its pre-Waitangi Day session with coalition Government leaders and ministers included a lot of blunt talk from both sides.
He says not enough information from the hui was made public.
“So, clearing up that communications and getting a lot more transparency – I think that would be a lot more beneficial – not just for the iwi leaders themselves or for the government. Actually for us out in the community to know what our rangatira are discussing and how important that mahi is for all of us,” Mr Stephens says.
He agrees the Treaty must be protected – but Māori also need to strategise for their future, because commercial success will also strengthen the social fabric of iwi.