Council wins big at Te Reo Awards

Auckland Council took out the local government category of the Māori Language Commission’s Māori Language Awards on Friday night (16 November).

Auckland Council Pae Arahi Matua of Te Waka Angamua, Johnnie Freeland says this award is a reflection of the council’s commitment to Te Reo Māori and Māori outcomes.

“We are thrilled that initiatives and programmes generated in Auckland Council’s first year of existence have been recognised as worthy of such an accolade.

“We are very proud of the contribution made by the Auckland Council family for our entry, in particular Auckland Libraries – Māori Services Team, Auckland Zoo, Waterfront Auckland, Te Toi o Tāmaki – Auckland Art Gallery, Regional and Specialist Parks, Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development and council’s Community Development, Arts and Culture Department.

“Our entry celebrated the Matariki festival, Māori Language Week events and workshops, interpretation projects, artworks and design and a range of initiatives available to Auckland Council staff that enable them to include Māori outcomes in their day-to-day work,” he says.

Mr Freeland acknowledges significant work of Auckland Transport in this area, underlined by its win of the Māori Language Week Inaugural Award and the Supreme Award.

Thirty finalists ranging from global corporate organisations to local tertiary institutes and schools, and competing in 15 categories, attended the awards at the TECT Arena in Tauranga.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Scoop Business: Bathurst Gets Nod For DoC Access To Denniston Mine

Conservation Minister Nick Smith has approved access over conservation estate land for Bathurst Resources to develop an open cast coal mine on the Denniston Plateau, above Westport, to the dismay of environmental opponents.

The timing for Smith’s move avoids Bathurst having to resubmit applications for access agreements under the revised Crown Minerals Act, which comes into force tomorrow and would have required public consultation.

The announcement lands in the middle of delicate negotiations between the company, environmental groups and other interested parties that could pave the way to a broader agreement on the Escarpment proposal, whose resource consents are still subject to court appeals. More>>