Thursday 9 February 2006

Mihi breaks new ground

History was made in local government today, when Waitakere City Council's City Development Committee met.

Among those present was Mihi Te Huia, representing the Council's Maori liaison committee, Te Taumata Runanga. This follows the Council's decision to allow Te Taumata Runanga a place on the City Development Committee in an attempt to increase its capacity to become involved in the decision making of the Council.

Mayor Bob Harvey described the appointment as "a very bold step - but an appropriate one."

"There has been a lot of talk about the need for Te Taumata Runanga to grow and its voice for Maori to be influential. I guess many of us would have gone further, but this is a very important initiative and I have no doubt it will lead to an expanded position when it is reviewed in a year's time," Mayor Harvey says.

Mrs Te Huia says having the tangata whenua more involved with the Council at this level, will "reflect in a better partnership between the tangata whenua and their Treaty partner".

Under the Electoral Act, the Council must explore the possibility of establishing Maori Wards. The Council's Finance and Operational Performance Committee, in October voted against Maori Wards but asked for the workshop to investigate ways that Maori can be more involved in Council decision making.

ENDS

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