More than 50 iwi leaders and advisers are expected to attend the Iwi Chairs Forum being held in Tauranga later this month.

It will be hosted by the three Tauranga Moana Iwi – Ngai Te Rangi, Ngati Ranginui and Ngati Pukenga – and will bring a busy year to a close for iwi leaders.

Leaders and advisers at the Iwi Chair Forum held on Rapaki Marae in 2012. Photo: Supplied.

The forum has been held since 2005 and this month's meeting will be the first time held in Tauranga.

It begins on November 25 with a tour of the kiwifruit facilities at Te Awanui Hukapak in Mount Maunganui, and continues through to November 27.

The forum also offers new Maori Development minister Te Ururoa Flavell his first opportunity to address a national iwi audience. Finance minister Bill English has also been invited.

Ngai Te Rangi iwi chair Charlie Tawhiao says hosting the forum is an honour and marks a new phase in building stronger ties between Tauranga iwi and their counterparts from around the country.

Charlie says it is time for Tauranga iwi to look beyond local interests.

'While they [local iwi interest] will always be important, our approach to them can be better informed by our participation in a forum,” he says.

'[The forum] brings to the table a wider range of perspectives and experiences.”

For example, the forum has sponsored a review of the Te Ture Whenua Maori Land legislation which will be of great interest to many as 'Maori seek to better utilise their land assets”.

As many iwi interests are tied to major trends in the national economy, the state of the economy is also likely to be a major talking point.

But social, cultural and environmental issues still retain a high interest level, says Charlie.

'Climate change, housing, Whanau Ora, conservation and Matauranga Maori are all topics likely to be on the forum's order of business,” he adds.

Charlie believes Tauranga, with its large Maori population, has an important future role to play in the forum.

The recent Labour weekend iwi festival showed Tauranga is a major base for Maori and Maori culture and 'we need to grow that influence into our wider community”.

It is also encouraging that businesses like investment firm Forsyth Barr have seized the opportunity to present at the forum, he says.

'Clearly they see the present as being about building future relationships with Maori across the board and I welcome their inclusion,” he says.

The Iwi Chairs Forum meets at Baypark Arena on Tuesday, November 25, and runs until Thursday, November 27. Members of the public are welcome but have no speaking rights at the forum.

For more information email forum organiser Buddy Mikaere at: mailto:buddy@manataiao.com