October 20, 2004
Councillors welcomed with powhiri
History was made when the new North Shore City Council was welcomed with a powhiri (Maori greeting) from Tangata Whenua
and members of the Maori community to mark the start of its 2004-07 term.
In a first for North Shore City, Mayor George Wood solemnly took the oath of office in both Maori and English before a
packed, multi-cultural audience.
Local Kaumatua Arnold Wilson from Awataha Marae led Mayor Wood and councillors into the council chamber where they were
greeted by Tangata Whenua and iwi from throughout North Shore City (Te Raki Pae Whenua) and the Auckland region (Tamaki
Makaurau).
George Wood hailed the ceremony as a new beginning in the relationship between Council and Maori.
"Tonight we wrote a special chapter in North Shore City's history and I look forward, with confidence, to a very bright
future for our community," he says.
ENDS