Northland iwi leaders are pushing back against proposed law changes they say could weaken Māori representation in local government and undermine hard-won Treaty partnership at the council table.
Aperahama Edwards, co-chair of Te Kahu o Taonui, says iwi are concerned the Government is using Northland communities, including the Far North District Council, to justify removing voting rights from non-elected members on council committees.
The Government argues the change is about strengthening democracy by ensuring only elected representatives can vote on local decisions.
But iwi leaders say the amendment risks doing the opposite by sidelining Māori voices from decision-making processes that directly affect whenua, wai, infrastructure, planning and community wellbeing.
In the Far North, committees such as Te Kuaka have provided a formal pathway for Māori participation in council decision-making, bringing iwi, hapū and local government together to consider issues through both local knowledge and Treaty partnership.
Supporters say these arrangements help councils make better decisions by ensuring Māori perspectives are included early, rather than being treated as an afterthought.
Te Kahu o Taonui says stripping voting rights from appointed Māori representatives would reduce genuine partnership to consultation, weakening the ability of councils to work alongside mana whenua on matters affecting their rohe.
The concern extends beyond Northland, with iwi warning the legislation could set a national precedent for rolling back Māori participation in local government across Aotearoa.
Māori leaders say the issue is not just about committee structures, but about whether Treaty partnership is treated as a living obligation in local democracy.
They are calling on the Government to listen to iwi, councils and communities before making changes they say could damage relationships built over many years.
