Pānui | Media Statement

18 August, 2016

Urban Māori need greater voice on Independent Māori Statutory Board

The National Urban Māori Authority (NUMA) wants a greater voice for Matā Waka on the Independent Māori Statutory Board (IMSB).

Nominations for the two Matā Waka positions are currently being called for, and close on August 23.

NUMA is supporting the nominations of Willie Jackson and John Tamihere for the two Matā Waka positions.

But NUMA CEO Lance Norman believes the two-seat allocation is inequitable. He said the numbers are in NUMA’s favour, and Matā waka – Māori who live in Auckland but are not mana whenua - should have 50% of the seats on Independent Māori Statutory Board.

With over 60% of Māori coming from Iwi outside of Tamaki Makaurau, the two seat allocation is gross under-representation, Norman says.

“It’s unheard of that a minority chooses on behalf of a majority – the last time this happened was in apartheid South Africa,” he adds.

“For the views of over 130,000 Māori, expected to be voiced by just two is inequitable.”

“We outnumber mana whenua 5:1 but the current makeup of the IMSB continues to ignore that majority voice.”

A selection panel drawn from Auckland’s mana whenua Iwi appoint all IMSB Board members – including the two representatives of Matā Waka.

At the last election, the High Court threw out one of the panel’s selections because it hadn’t given proper consideration to the applicants.

And more recently the IMSB stepped aside from the Auckland Unitary Plan and lost the protection of Wāhi Tapu - a move Norman says this should never have happened.

“Whatever the strategy was, it didn’t work and now mana whenua have a fight on their hands to retain protection of those valued sites,” Norman says.

“Matā Waka wants to get on with the job of building a greater Auckland for all and we can do this by making sure 130,000 are equitably represented.”

Nominations for the two Matā Waka positions close on Tuesday.

Information is at www.manawhenuaselectionbody.maori.nz

Ends

© Scoop Media