Judd and Fox presenting at Māori Governance Hui on 31 May 2015
New Plymouth Mayor Andrew Judd and Māori Party Co-leader Marama Fox are the latest to join an exciting line up of
speakers and presenters attending this weekend’s Te Tatau Pounamu Maori Governance and Representation Conference in
Palmerston North.
New Plymouth has been in the headlines recently for the overwhelming vote against Maori Wards in the region. Mayor
Andrew Judd has also made known his own principled stand to lay a complaint with the United Nations Permanent Forum on
Indigenous Issues for an issue he believes is fundamentally unfair.
"The reasonable interpretation of the Treaty of Waitangi is that you would have fifty-fifty representation around the
table," says Mr Judd. "We should be incorporating the Maori perspective around council tables, and ultimately that would
mean up to half the representation each."
He will be joined by Colleen Tuuta to discuss their experience with establishing Maori Wards in New Plymouth and what
other communities can learn from their experience.
Marama Fox has being protesting against the forced closure of Aboriginal Communities and has been cautioning the
Government and community on the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement highlighting the negative impacts this will have not
only on Maori but New Zealanders as a whole. Mrs Fox will give the opening keynote address at the Conference.
Fair and equitable representation will be a key highlight of the conference, providing an opportunity to listen to
leaders at the forefront of promoting active partnership with Maori. The hui will also be highly interactive, providing
participants various opportunities to network and discuss issues with speakers and attendees.
This weekend’s speakers include: Joris De Bres (Former Human Rights Commissioner), Doug Leeder (Chair of the Eastern Bay
of Plenty Council) Moana Jackson (Indigenous Rights Advocate and Lawyer), Tipa Mahuta, (Councillor Waikato Regional
Council), Teanau Tuiono (Activist and Entrepreneur), Dr Whatarangi Winiata, Te Rangikaheke Bidois (Te Arawa Councillor),
Melanie Shadbolt (Lincoln University Researcher and Te Waipounamu District Maori Council Chair) Veronica Tawhai (Massey
University Lecturer), Mike Reid (Local Government NZ) Tame Te Rangi (Ngati Whatua and Tuhoronuku Representative) Haami
Piripi.(Te Runanga o Te Rarawa Chairman).
ends