Waitomo District Council. FILE PHOTO
A NEW committee will start the Waitomo District Council year on February 22/23, – new Te Raangai Whakakaupapa Koorero (Māori Relationship Committee).
The council was able to avoid a decision to include Māori seats in last year’s local body elections because the date did not coincide with the required six-yearly representation discussion cycle.
But the council is legally required to establish the new committee due to the Maniapoto Claims Settlement Act 2022, which became law on September 27, last year.
The Act contains provisions and makes obligations on Waitomo District Council in respect to co-governance and co-management – as well as recording the acknowledgements and apology given by the Crown to Maniapoto in the deed of settlement; and giving effect to certain provisions of the deed of settlement that settles the historical claims of Maniapoto.
Te Nehenehenui is the mandated iwi authority established by Trust Deed to receive the Treaty Settlement, and the new committee will include two Te Nehenehenui trustees, as well as district councillors Eady Manawaiti, Dan Tasker, and Mayor John Robertson. Eady Manawaiti is the chair.
Te Raangai Whakakaupapa Koorero will meet on an as-required basis, with the first meeting scheduled for Thursday, February 23.
The Act also requires the Waikato Regional Council and Ōtorohanga District Council to enter into similar joint management agreements with the trustees, not later than 12 months after September 27.
Eady Manawaiti asked the mayor where the new committee would stand when it came to receiving delegations, referring to a delegation from Oparure that addressed their road safety concerns at the beginning of the November 29 council meeting.
“That actually went well, and we want to encourage iwi, whānau, and hapu to be brave enough to come to these sort of things,” he said.
John Robertson said he wasn’t sure if standing orders permitted delegations to be received by a sub-committee of the council, but the outcome could perhaps be discussed by the committee before it was discussed by the full council.
Eady said he was trying to get a fuller understanding of the purpose of the committee. The Oparure delegation followed tikanga, which was important to the delegates.
“It’s quite hard to deliver a kōrero like that, some of them have never done it before.”
WDC governance support manager Michelle Higgie said the tikanga-based Oparure delegation was able to work because of the council’s relaxed approach to standing orders, which only permitted one person to speak for five minutes or longer and only two people to speak on behalf of any organisation.
The purpose of the committee is to provide guidance, assistance, and support to Waitomo District Council (WDC) on matters specific to iwi and mana whenua relationships.
According to the draft terms of reference in the meeting agenda, the committee could also be a place where deputations occurred on matters of particular interest to Māori.
The new committee will not replace the council’s existing relationship with the regional management committees (RMCs) through the proposed district plan process and direct relationships with hapu such Te Kūiti Pā committee.
The establishment of the joint committee will not alter or override any council obligations in the Joint Management Agreement developed as part of the Nga Wai o Maniapoto (Waipa River) Act 2012.
The committee’s responsibilities include being the forum where matters specific to the Maniapoto Settlement are canvassed, including Motakiora and the Mangaokewa Reserve.
Terms of reference also include it being the forum where partnership opportunities with iwi / mana whenua for community initiatives are canvassed, including housing and papakainga, youth initiatives, a methamphetamine harm reduction programme, town entrance gateways and cultural hubs, and central Government reforms.
It will also be the committee supporting the council with advice on matters like Māori wards, cultural awareness and understanding of staff and elected members (te ao Māori, tiriti, te reo), and general relationships with iwi and mana whenua, workplace practices and protocols.
It will help council reflect cultural values in strategy, policy, and written content of plans.
Delegated powers and duties include recommending changes to its terms of reference to the council for adoption, receiving and considering staff reports, and making recommendations to council with respect to any of the matters listed as its responsibilities.
The committee can meet only every two months.
