Red tape cutter

Tu Tangata, Issue 8, 1 October 1982, Page 13

Red tape cutter

Cutting through red tape is now the job of a man who not too long ago used to generate red tape for a living when he was Minister of Maori Affairs. Matiu Rata has put together a consultancy firm, Mana Management that works as a middleman between Maori people and bureaucracy.

Operating initially from an Auckland base, the firm now helps people from Paeroa to the far north, people who had

found they were on their own when it came to dealing with red tape. In Paeroa, people whose land was

flooded last year were helped to seek recompense for crops, stock loss and loss of earnings. And in the far north Mana Management prepared a report for the trustees of a 700 acre block, a report on the best ways to use the land bearing in mind the need for rate relief (a large burden) and the Crown’s call for upgrading the land.

For the block’s approximately 108 Maori owners, the report contains amongst other ideas, the concept of a ‘wilderness’ area where people can recapture the pioneering spirit of New Zealand.

Mana Management also advises on land tenure and more specialised advice such as marketing.

Matiu Rata. “We encourage Maori partnerships and let people know where they can get the specialist information from. Tu Tangata business wananga have encouraged many Maori people to try business for themselves and that’s good. What’s needed is the link between the producer and the market.

“For example the Island community in Auckland need taro. We can grow an acceptable product with our climate. Young people in Auckland must learn to put it together administratively and use every available economic resource.”