Mˉaori Engagement

Council has a number and range of statutory functions that require recognition and respect of the Crown’s responsibility to take account of the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi as well as improving opportunities for Māori to participate in Council’s decision-making processes. The opportunity and ability for Māori to participate enables them to provide for their well-being while recognising and providing for the relationship of Māori, their culture and traditions, with their ancestral lands, water, sites Wahi Tapu and other Taonga.

As par t of their function, the Māori Engagement Activity is tasked with facilitating and liaising with Iwi/Hapu to give effect to Council’s responsibilities.

Māori Engagement contributes by

• To align Māori social and development outcomes so that there are clearer opportunities and efficiencies when providing for the social, cultural, environmental and economic development and well-being of Māori within the Far North

– in action – 

Maori Engagement

What we said we would do in 2013/14

Council indicated in the LTCCP 2009/19 that it supported developing effective Māori engagement by reflecting a commitment to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and by promoting Māori development by providing assistance to Treaty claimants.

What we did in 2013/14

Council has identified a renewed commitment to improving the way it engages with Māori and is developing a Māori Strategy alongside Iwi/ Māori.

What we plan to do in 2014/15

To establish ways of improving Council’s engagement with Māori and will also lead to developing strategic relationships in a positive way that will bring mutual benefits to both Māori and the wider community.

– what we have achieved in 2013/14 –  

• Worked with a number of Māori Landowners, Ahu Whenua Trusts and Landcorp to scope out economic development opportunities for Māori Land.
• Worked with Māori landowners to develop a Honey contracting company looking at contracting out labour services
• Development of the Ngawha Springs Mineral Pools will result in the Domain Reserve being leased to Parahirahi C1 Trust to help enable their redevelopment proposal. To support this lease a Memorandum of Intent will be developed between the Trust and Council.
• A Māori Strategy on Relationships and Engagement has been endorsed which will provide the opportunity for Council to engage Māori on a range of matters, but specifically in relation to:
  • The Treaty of Waitangi
  • Māori Representation
  • Māori Consultation
  • Māori Economic and Social Development; and
  • Capacity Building.

– where are we now? – 

• Working through Manawhenua dynamics preparatory to raising Council business.
• Managing Tangata Whenua values with Councils expectations.
• Obtaining buy in from other parts of the organisation as to how things should proceed when dealing with Māori.
• Talking to the right people, and developing long term relationships.
• Adequate staff resources to be engaged to address the increased number of projects.
• The focus and priority for Tangata Whenua was not Council business but instead were Treaty Settlements.
• The Te Haumi project where the goal post kept changing because of information and requests by another consenting authority was causing confusion for Tangata Whenua.

- key priorities planned for 2014/15 –

Transport Strategy and Advocacy Plan

• Developing Partnership Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding to underpin Council’s relationship with Iwi/Māori as well as reflecting Council’s commitment to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.
• Working alongside Treaty claimants to develop strategic relationships that supports and enables economic, social, environmental and cultural opportunities that brings mutual benefits to both Māori and the wider community.
• Exploring incentive schemes and other opportunities to enhance the use of Māori land to encourage its productive use.
• Working with Māori on key infrastructure projects of mutual interest (e.g. water supply and water quality within the district).

¹ Please refer to M¯aori Engagement section of the Long-Term Plan (LTP) 2012/13 and the Annual Plans 2013/14 and 2014/15 for further information on priorities