The New Zealand Māori Council’s relevance today and how it works with iwi, hapū and a number of other Māori organisations will be discussed at the Te Tatau Pounamu hui this month in Palmerston North.
Māori representation, mandate and participation will also be key points of focus.
According to Council Co-Chair, Maanu Paul, “Vigorous and constructive discussion is expected from the exciting group of speakers who’ll be presenting at the Conference. We have speakers who are marae, hapū and iwi leaders as well those participating in government and post-settlement entities.”
He says the goal is to establish recommendations and strategies for Māori participation and representation at all levels of government in Aotearoa. “It’s timely to discuss what’s working, what can be improved and what needs to be changed.”
A Waitangi Tribunal report in 2014 identified the representational environment has changed since the establishment of the Council under the Māori Deevelopment Act in 1962 and asked the Council to consider the roles of urban iwi authorities.
