MEDIA RELEASE
More direct voice for Maori in new committee structure
For immediate release: Thursday 11 November 2004
Bay of Plenty iwi will have a more direct voice in regional politics with the revamp of Environment Bay of Plenty’s
committee structure to reflect the advent of dedicated seats for Maori.
At the first meeting since their inauguration, councillors divvied up their jobs for the next three years, making
changes to support the new Maori representation as well as their growth in numbers.
While setting up virtually the same overall committee structure as before, the council has re-jigged the way it receives
input from the region’s iwi. In the past, it ran three area-based Maori representative committees, which contained
iwi-nominated representatives and councillors. These committees reported to a Maori Standing Committee, which in turn
reported to full council.
Under the new system, the three committees will become a single group reporting directly to full council. It will
involve iwi representatives, the three new Maori councillors, as well as other councillors and will be chaired by
Environment Bay of Plenty chairman John Cronin.
Mr Cronin says the revamped structure will help build Maori capacity to take part in the council’s decision-making
processes.
Another change reflects the rise in councillor numbers from 12 to 14. Some committees that previously involved all
councillors will no longer have all of them on board, Mr Cronin says.
The other key committees are: Strategic policy (chaired by deputy chairman Bryan Riesterer), finance and corporate
services (chaired by Bill Cleghorn), operational services committee (Jim Pringle), regulation and monitoring committee
(Ian Noble), regional development committee and regional land transport committee (both chaired by Athole Herbert), and
total mobility management committee (Philip Sherry).
ENDS