The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry will be outlining their response to messages received from Maori in 1998 at 12
consultation hui around the country over the next 10 weeks.
Just after the new Ministry was created in 1998, it embarked on a consultation hui round to hear Maori views about how
it should operate. According to MAF Director-General, Professor Bruce Ross, who attended all the hui, the messages
received from Maori were direct and hard hitting.
“We were told that MAF should listen to Maori opinions and aspirations they have for their land and that the Ministry
needed to consult more effectively” said Professor Ross. “We also heard a number of calls for a credible and effective
Maori voice within MAF” he added.
These messages prompted MAF to re-examine its understanding of Maori issues and its capability to interact with the
Maori community. This led directly to the development of a Treaty of Waitangi Goal in the Ministry’s 1999-2010 Strategic
Plan and the commissioning of a consultant to review MAF’s responsiveness to Maori.
As a result, in early 2000 it was decided to establish a Maori Strategy Unit in MAF to develop and implement a
Ministry-wide Maori responsiveness strategy. A Corporate Manager, Maori Strategy, Tikitu Tutua-Nathan, has been
recruited to head the new unit and is a member of the Ministry’s Senior Management Team. A key part of the upcoming hui
will be an overview and discussion of the role and functions of the Maori Strategy Unit.
As well as seeking feedback on MAF’s new direction for Maori, it is hoped that the hui round will provide an opportunity
for participating MAF staff to meet with Maori and to identify areas for greater co-operation between MAF and Maori.
“A key part of the MAF Maori responsiveness plan is enabling the Ministry to develop ongoing effective relationships
with Maori, and the hui round is a good opportunity to do this kanohi ki te kanohi – face-to-face” said Mr Tutua-Nathan.
It is also hoped that MAF officials will also to hear Maori views on MAF’s current role, the regulations it administers
and services it provides. In addition, there will be seminar presentations on two new policy areas – the National
Biosecurity Strategy and Climate Change.
The MAF Maori consultation hui round for 2001 begins in Rotorua on Wednesday, 11 April at Te Ao Marama Hall in
Ohinemutu.
…ends
MAF MAORI CONSULTATION HUI ROUND 2001 Date Place Venue
Weds, April 11 Rotorua Te Ao Marama Hall
Thurs, April 19 Gisborne TPK Office
Tues, April 24 Hawera South Taranaki Community Center
Thurs, April 26 Te Kuiti Te Wananga o Aotearoa marae
Monday, 14 May Nelson Wakatu marae
Friday, 18 May Palmerston North Albert Motor Lodge
Hui are currently being arranged for May in the following centres:
Kaitaia Kaikohe Kaipara
Pukekohe Hastings Christchurch
NB All hui start at 10 am
For more information contact:
Neil McInnes, MAF Maori Strategy Unit Tel. 04 474 4198 Fax: 04 474 4244 Tikitu Tutua-Nathan, MAF Maori Strategy Unit
Tel. 04 470 2795 Fax: 04 474 4244