A Waitomo district council survey of what style of Māori representation is desired by the district’s tāngata whenua has returned a firm ‘don’t know’ – at this stage.
Te Raangai Whakakaupapa Koorero (TRWK) committee members have spent the last year doing the rounds of district marae to discuss representation options. The council decided last October to not introduce Māori Wards for the 2025 and 2028 elections.
Instead it decided to work with mana whenua through TRWK to find a representation model that enhanced relationships and provided a platform to discuss and advance issues of interest to Māori.
Not all whare favoured the establishment of Māori wards, committee chair Eady Manawaiti told council in November. The subsequent consultation with each whare as to how they wanted to engage with council, resulted in mixed feedback.
There are seven Whare o Te Nehenehenui, five within the Waitomo District. They are Te Whare ki Rereahu, Te Whare ki Mōkau ki Runga, Te Whare ki Tuhua Hikurangi, Te Whare ki Tokanganui a Noho and Te Whare Hau-ā-uru ki Uta.
Te Whare Tokanganui a Noho (Te Kūiti) expressed disappointment about the process followed and did not believe consultation was genuine, council chief executive Ben Smit said.
There was no suggestion on a model that may work going forward. Issues were also raised about the feasibility of a committee with whare representatives when they had busy volunteer schedules and a two-year term which did not match up with council three-year terms.
Te Whare ki Mōkau ki Runga were the most interested in a committee structure model with representatives from each whare. Te Whare ki Rereahu, was more interested in meeting one on one with council rather than being part of a committee.
The committee met with Te Whare Hauaauru ki Uta, shortly before the committee meeting.
After a meeting in Te Kūiti, Te Runanga o Ngāti Mahuta ki te Hauāuru had not returned with feedback from their wider whānau.
“Due to the mixed nature of the responses from whare and no clear way forward, officers are unable to provide advice to the committee on the best course of action. It may be that a mixed model is preferred,” Smit said.
Options included: Forming a committee to create a strategic plan for Māori in the district, form a committee with representatives from each whare, continue to meet with whare biannually or as needed.
“There is a risk of taking too long to begin a new model for Māori representation that momentum will be lost, and nothing will be bedded in prior to the 2025 elections. Whare may lose interest in the process,” Smit said.
Solutions from other districts include Together Te Tauihu strategy which involves the Nelson, Tasman, Marlborough district councils and eight iwi.
The partnership meets annually to review the strategic plan, which has a focus on being good ancestors. The partners engage in shared decision-making forums for dialogue and to co-design significant practices and policies ensuring Māori perspectives are integral to the process. The group decides together on shared priorities for the region.
Kāpiti has a district council committee – Te Whakaminenga o Kāpiti comprising a councillor, the mayor and one representative each from the local iwi authority, a marae management committee and a charitable Trust.
Every six weeks it discusses matters of social, environmental, economic and cultural significance to tangata whenua. Committee members have voting rights around the table, but the committee has not been delegated decision making powers.
If TRWK was to meet informally with whare twice a year, it could not be formal committee meetings. The committee would then meet about every three months to go over the discussion items and make recommendations to council for decision making.
None of the options give Māori the decision-making power of a council vote from a ward seat, or direct input into decision making.
