Media Release
For immediate release: 25 August 2009

Maori seats working well for regional council

Environment Bay of Plenty Chairman John Cronin said the regional council’s three separate Maori constituency seats have worked well and he doesn’t see any changes in the near future.

“Our Maori constituency councillors have participated across the whole of the council, not just on Maori issues. They do a good job both as councillors and presenting Maori issues, and carry out the same duties as any of the other councillors,” Chairman Cronin said.

Environment Bay of Plenty has had separate Maori seats since 2001 and is the only council in the country with separate Maori representation.

Chairman Cronin said the council was working hard to foster Maori involvement in council decision-making processes, alongside having separate Maori constituency seats.

“As part of our Ten Year Plan, we have identified further steps we intend to take to develop Maori capacity, and a set of relationship principles to guide the way we work together and encourage participation in the decision-making process,”Chairman Cronin said.

“These relationship principles include providing Maori with greater accessibility to information, keeping an open mind to the views that Maori present and the opportunity for Maori to present their views in ways that suits them,” he said.

In 2006, Environment Bay of Plenty established a Maori Standing Committee to provide an opportunity for Maori to contribute to decision-making processes in councils. During 2008, five meetings were held at different locations across the region. Four of those meetings were held on marae.

ENDS

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