Maori council input

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 388, 28 May 1991, Page 5

Maori council input

A process begun eight months ago aimed at gaining Maori input into Regional Council decision making came to an end with the putting in place of Te Roopu Awhina, the 'Group that Embraces All'. The council approved the committee with one abstention and one vote against. Councillor Millard in stating her pleasure that the committee was now in place, said that the way forward was now clear. "I make no apologies for how long it's taken for us to arrive at this

point. The courtship has been rocky at times but we had to make sure that we had it right in order to make the marriage work." The decision to include Te Roopu Awhina in the Councils committee structure as a co-ordinating committee was passed by fourteen votes in favour against two recorded by Councillor Baty and Tolhurst. Cr Tolhurst had sought information regarding the cost of the committee, which was $13,000. As part of his objection he said al-

though the expense of the committee was not great in comparison to other committees he could not support a 'proliferation of bureaucracy for the sake of Maori mana.' He also asked what the committee would do and was directed to the committee's terms of reference which include the promotion to the council of those philosophies and policies for environmental issues which are in accordance with the Treaty of Waitangi and to coordinate input from the Region's iwi.