Nominations sought for Maori Reference Groups

Positive steps are being taken to introduce new mechanisms to improve communications and lift Maori involvement in local government in the Far North.


The proposal launched this month calls for the establishment of Maori Reference Groups to liaise with the council's three elected Community Boards, providing a conduit for Maori involvement and information-sharing on issues and policies of mutual interest.


The Maori Reference Groups are expected to provide a non-elective structure through which the Maori community can be encouraged to bring matters of concern to the council table via their respective boards.


Maori Engagement Co-ordinator Phill Grimshaw said today the terms of reference for the Maori groups had been discussed with local hapu and iwi and proposals would be workshopped with Community Boards and the council later this month.


"The intention is to encourage Maori involvement in the local government decision-making process by making sure the reference groups are kept well informed, that there are opportunities for the Maori perspective to be heard and there are more opportunities for Maori to contribute to policy development," he said.


It was envisaged that there would be three reference groups coinciding with the geographic areas of the three Community Boards. Each board would appoint at least one elected member to the relevant Maori Reference Group and the balance of the representation on the group (up to a maximum of 12) would be determined by local hapu and marae.


"The boards will be the conduit for groups to the council table. To progress matters we are now asking hapu and marae to nominate a representative to their local group. The sooner the groups are in place, the sooner we can agree the terms of reference and get the groups operational," he said.


Mr Grimshaw said it was envisaged the voluntary Maori Reference Groups could be serviced within existing council resources.


"We have been talking about improving Maori representation and involvement in local government for a number of years and it is now time to give effect to the talk," he said.