Symposium to build council awareness of Treaty landscape

9 August 2017 - Bay of Plenty Regional Council hosted a Treaty symposium earlier this week for councillors and senior council staff members from local authorities across the Bay of Plenty.

The event, on Monday, August 7, was designed to build awareness and understanding of the contemporary Treaty landscape, both in the Bay of Plenty and from a national perspective.

Regional councillor Arapeta Tahana said the event covered a range of Treaty-related topics.

“It helped give everyone who attended a better understanding of issues and how they related to the work local authorities do.

There were 114 attendees at the symposium, including staff from the Office of Treaty Settlements and the Ministry for the Environment. Waikato regional councillor Tipa Mahuta also participated in the event.

Ngā Potiki kaumatua opened the symposium, followed by presentations from iwi leaders Colin Reeder, Charlie Tawhiao and Te Pio Kawe.

Keynote speakers included Justice Joe Williams, Treaty lawyer Paul Beverley and Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy.

ENDS

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