Policies for Liaising with Maori
Iwi and Māori Participation in Council Decision Making
Tararua District Council acknowledges and values the role of tangata whenua within our district and we are committed to ensuring that we work with iwi to build our community together. This aspiration is amplified through the recently adopted District Strategy, Thriving Together 2050, which aims for the people of Tararua to thrive together. Central to this strategy is fostering effective partnerships with iwi and Māori across all endeavours.
As Tangata Tiriti, Council is committed to maintaining and improving opportunities for iwi and Māori to contribute to local government. The Council acknowledges its relationship with both iwi in the Tararua District, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Tāmaki-nui-a-Rua and Rangitāne o Tamaki Nui-ā-Rua and will continue to act respectfully and reasonably as a Treaty partner for iwi and Māori alike. This will be enacted through the actioning of specific principles and requirements that facilitate participation by iwi and Māori in local authority decision-making processes.
Council is committed to upholding the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the foundational agreement between Māori and the Crown. Recognising the diverse facets of Māori identity is crucial for the Council to enable effective contributions to both the broader community and specifically to Māori.
The Local Government Act 2002 mandates that the Council’s Long Term Plan outlines initiatives to enhance Māori involvement in Council’s decision-making for the forthcoming decade. The Council’s Significance and Engagement Policy details the methods for iwi and Māori engagement in decision-making. Given the partnership between local Iwi and the Crown established by Te Tiriti o Waitangi, it is crucial to prioritise Māori perspectives, especially in significant decisions concerning land or water, respecting their ties to ancestral lands and traditions. Through aligning with Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Council can pave the way for a more inclusive and just society where indigenous voices are not only heard but also respected and acted upon.
Rangitāne o Tamaki Nui-ā-Rua and Ngāti Kahungunu ki Tāmaki-nui-a-Rua, who represent their many hapū with their own whenua and awa tributaries, have both signed deeds of settlement with the New Zealand Government and have partnership agreements with Tararua District Council. These memoranda of partnership recognise the relationship and responsibility of Council to support iwi aspirations for the future of their whānau. While the Council has obligations to all Māori, it has a further responsibility to act in good faith and in a manner of mutual respect with its iwi partners.
Together with Council, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Tāmaki-nui-a-Rua and Rangitāne o Tamaki Nui-ā-Rua share a vision for a prosperous and healthy district that supports its people and their cultural values. These are the principles of kotahitanga and kaitiakitanga, where sustainability, care for the environment and appropriate management of natural and physical resources is achieved through working together.
Tāmaki Nui-a-Rua Māori Ward
The Local Electoral Act 2001 provides for the establishment of Māori Ward(s) and sets out timing and processes for how this is undertaken. In June 2021, the Council resolved to establish a Māori Ward, which was named the Tāmaki Nui-a-Rua Māori Ward. The first councillor to represent the Māori Ward was elected in the 2022 triennial elections. A binding poll was undertaken at the 2025 triennial elections with the result being that the Māori Ward would be disestablished at the 2028 election.
Portfolio Focus Area
Following the 2025 triennial elections, the Council established a Portfolio Focus Area for Marae, Kura Kaupapa Māori and Kohanga Reo. Crs Keshaan Te Waaka and Erana Peeti-Webber were appointed to this Portfolio.