For immediate release - 11 September 2013
Te Mana Akonga - National Māori Students Association

Review of Act should be seen as an opportunity for Māori

The New Zealand Māori Council has achieved a number of gains for Māori including the adoption of the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in the State Owned Enterprises Act 1986, the reform of Māori land resulting in Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, the 1989 Māori Fisheries Act and the 1992 Sealord’s Act. The review of the Māori Community Development Act 1962 should be seen as another opportunity for Māori.

“Despite its timing, and the number of issues being addressed within the Act, the review of the Māori Community Act 1962 should be seen as an opportunity for Māori development rather than a hidden agenda to dissolve the New Zealand Māori Council or put constraints around the Māori Wardens”, says Ivy Harper, Tumuaki of Te Mana Ākonga.

“Anyone looking at the Act can see that it is archaic, irrelevant in a number of areas and this needs to be addressed”, says Harper. “I have participated in one of the consultation hui and intend joining another, and the general feeling at that particular hui was that the Act needs to be updated so that it is more relevant and so that it can better support the Māori community”, says Harper.

“A further consensus of the hui was that the New Zealand Māori Council should stay, the Māori Wardens need their autonomy and both the Council and the Wardens need to be adequately resourced, administered and supported so they can continue to develop a strong kaupapa”, says Harper.

“Te Mana Ākonga is of the view that there is still a huge role for the New Zealand Māori Council to play in the future. Ideally it would have been better if there was a greater inclusion of the New Zealand Māori Council within the consultation process and while public consultation at any time is not always welcomed due to its timing, it is hoped that some positive changes and benefits will come out of this process”, says Harper.

“There were a number of recommendations out of the 2010 Inquiry supported by the cross-party Māori Affairs Select Committee that got this review underway. I think a further one should be an examination of Te Puni Kokiri and how it currently supports the Māori Wardens”, notes Harper. “There have been some concerns from Wardens around the delays in approving warrants and also around the support from Te Puni Kokiri and this also needs to be addressed”.

The submissions deadline for comments on the Māori Community Development Act 1962 is 30 September 2013.

ENDS

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