The Chairman on the Māori Carbon Foundation, Sir Mark Solomon, has announced the establishment of an Office of the Māori Climate Commissioner (OMCC) to provide independent Māori-focused research and advice that will contribute to Aotearoa meeting its obligations under the 2015 Paris Agreement on greenhouse-gas-emissions (to reduce emissions by 30% below 2005 levels by 2030).

The Commissioner would provide research and advice based on a Māori world view, and be available to Māori, to politicians, government agencies, media, other New Zealanders, and to the global community.

The Commissioner would: facilitate opportunities for Māori to learn about climate change, and programmes to help Māori play their part in Aotearoa’s campaign to clean up the world; and also be available to engage with all other stakeholders in Aotearoa.

The Commissioner would operate independently of the Maori Carbon Foundation, the Crown, and other private/public agencies.

Sir Mark said he was proud to announce that the inaugural Maori Climate Commissioner would be Donna Awatere Huata, of Ngati Whakaue, Ngati Porou, Ngati Hine and Nga Puhi descent.

“Donna is a long-time advocate for the Treaty of Waitangi, a campaigner against racism and a former Member of Parliament. She was also an early advocate for the circular economy, representing NZ at the Sustainable Business Conference in the Netherlands in the early 2000’s.

Donna represented the NZ Maori Council, Maori Women’s Welfare League, NUMA, FOMA and Te Whanau o Waipareira Trust on the Appointments Boards for Te Ohu Kaimoana and the Crown Forestry Rental Trust, and also represented the NZ Maori Council on the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous People 2014-2017.

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