Waiariki MP and Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell hopes other centres will emulate the partnership agreement signed between Rotorua Lakes Council and Te Arawa.
Te Ururoa Flavell. Photo: File.
In the New Year the newly elected Te Arawa partnership board, Te Tatau o Te Arawa, will appoint two iwi representatives to two of the main council committees.
Te Ururoa says the debate over the agreement has been heated, but it sets the scene for tangata whenua to have more of a say in the region.
He says it's in contrast to places like New Plymouth, Tauranga and Whangarei, which have resisted Maori involvement in forming policy.
"It's sad in this day and age that people still hold the colonial view that our job is just to act at tourist cong-ons and do the powhiri sort of carry on but when it comes to actually shaping the cities we live in, they don't want us involved.
'I think that's a sad indictment but the good thing is there are some positive signs and Rotorua is one of them," Te Ururoa says.
5 comments
Overit
Posted on 25-12-2015 15:42 | By overit
Crikey, nearly choked on my pavlova. Don't get me started Mr Flavell. This aint over yet.
Hi Troy
Posted on 26-12-2015 08:35 | By Tga local
Everyone has an equal opportunity to get involved in local politics at the moment. You are suggesting a certain percentage of the population, based on race, should have special treatment. This devalues the efforts of maori, past and present, who competed, and succeeded, on their own merits.
mrken
Posted on 26-12-2015 09:02 | By pamken
mr flavell once again you only think of the few not the majority, you try to stop anything that will improve our city,ie dredging the port so bigger ships can come in, all for a few mussels, thats why they dont want you involved.
So how many
Posted on 26-12-2015 09:53 | By earlybird
non Maori have been appointed to the Te Arawa partnership board. I hope there are some.
What are you afraid of ???
Posted on 31-12-2015 07:39 | By ROCCO
If you are going to print this race based garbage then in the interest of balance, fair comment and equal treatment you have an obligation to print all robust criticism and other viewpoints.!!!!
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to make a comment.