The Māori Party say that iwi within Taranaki and Hawke's Bay regions will have more input in to their local regional councils.
Māori Party co-leader, Marama Fox says “While Māori representation on local government authorities is still abysmally low, we are pleased to see that some iwi and councils are making a commitment to try different ways of ensuring tangata whenua views are heard.”
This week, Parliament passed the first reading of the Ngāruahine Claims Settlement Bill and the third reading of the Hawke's Bay Regional Planning Committee Bill.
The Ngāruahine Bill means eight Taranaki iwi are allowed to nominate iwi on to Taranaki Regional Council atanding committees and the Hawke's Bay establishes a standing committee made up of half council and half iwi representatives from the Hawke's Bay region.
Māori Development Minister, Te Ururoa Flavell says “It’s heartening to see iwi take up the opportunity during their Treaty of Waitangi settlement negotiations to ensure they do have a greater say in local government. It’s critical that iwi and Māori have influence both in local and central government if we are going to continue to move forward as Treaty partners.”