Council reinforces commitment to working with iwi
3 May 2014
Rotorua District Council remains committed to developing a new partnership model with Te Arawa and has been working on that since last October.
As part of a self-review of the Te Arawa Standing Committee it was agreed a stronger mechanism needed development for iwi to be more effectively involved.
Mayor Steve Chadwick says she believes Te Arawa will shortly undertake a very important conversation for Rotorua.
There is a new and growing economy evolving with iwi and there is expectation through legislation that Council will partner effectively and work more closely with iwi - and we are committed to doing this, Mrs Chadwick said.
On Thursday [1 May 2014], RDC conducted a councillors' workshop where a draft paper for discussion by Te Arawa at an upcoming hui-a-iwi was tabled for the information of elected officials as a courtesy.
Mayor Chadwick was disappointed to learn yesterday that Te Arawa's draft paper had been given to media.
I'm disappointed Te Arawa's paper has become public before Te Arawa has even had the chance to discuss it.
It's a draft Te Arawa paper created for Te Arawa discussion, and Council doesn't yet know what the implications of those discussions will be.
The time to publically debate this will be once Te Arawa has had the opportunity to hold their hui-a-iwi with their members.
Councillors know we have to work in new ways and we are very committed to working to create a better partnership with our tangata whenua.
We know that trust in RDC remains a huge concern for iwi and these types of breeches don't help either party to move forward.
It is expected hui-a-iwi for Te Arawa entities and wider Te Arawa community will be held during May.