Media Release                                                                   December 3,  2009

Iwi Chair Says Auckland Statutory Board for Maori a Waste of Time

Te Runanga o Ngati Whatua chair Naida Glavish says the government bill on Auckland's super city that relegates Maori representation to a Statutory Board is a waste of time.

 She says the structure to be known as a Statutory Board for Maori does absolutely nothing to provide mana whenua with any meaningful representation in the region.

"It's no surprise there is widespread cynicism about government consultation. This Board will see the continuation of costly, time consuming, and ineffectual engagement with mana whenua that does nothing to either improve the wellbeing of our people or to assist the city to become a place of distinction," she says.

She says the Statutory Board as a means of representing mana whenua uses a very tired and outdated model.

" The 21st century is the era of collaboration. That is the way forward for successful societies, successful business and successful governance. It is tragic that such an opportunity is being missed to engage with mana whenua as partners to truly put Tamaki Makaurau on the global map."

Naida Glavish says any actual benefit from the new so called' super city" restructure is starting to look extremely doubtful as endless powerless boards continue to be created.

"I thought Rodney Hide was marginally smarter than this. One day he is trumpeting the need for less bureaucracy and more efficient government, the next he's creating meaningless, toothless entities such as this Statutory Board for Maori."

Te Runanga o Ngati Whatua represents the iwi of Ngati Whatua across 34 marae from Auckland City  through the Kaipara, Otamatea  Whangarei and Dargaville districts.
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