31 March 2006

Council Calls For Nominations For Te Tiriti O Waitangi Committee

Manukau City Council resolved last night that the number of Taura Here (Maori affiliated to tribes outside of Manukau) representatives on the Te Tiriti o Waitangi Standing Committee be increased from three to four, bringing the total number of members to 18.

Previously, membership of the Committee consisted of nine councillors and eight appointed members (5 Mana Whenua and 3 Taura Here members).

Council agreed to increase Taura Here membership in response to concerns expressed by Maori about the uneven level of representation for appointed members compared with elected members.

Candidates will be selected at a hui on 13 May at Te Puea Marae in Mangere Bridge for recommendation to the Council which will make the final appointment. The first committee meeting will be held in June.

Sir Barry Curtis, Mayor of Manukau and Chair of the Te Tiriti o Waitangi Committee, is delighted with the decision and is looking forward to the first meeting.

“Maori are the Tangata Whenua and they have a special and unique place in New Zealand life, as does the Treaty. This Committee will allow Manukau City Council to meet its obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi in a number of ways including policy development and decision-making processes.”

Nominations are invited for the four Taura Here positions. Nomination forms are available from the Treaty of Waitangi Unit, Democratic Processes, Level 4, Civic Centre, Wiri Station Road, Manukau City or on line at www.manukau.govt.nz

Candidates and their nominators must be of Maori descent, resident in Manukau City and registered on the Maori Parliamentary Electoral Roll.

ENDS

© Scoop Media