Disrupting Dominant Identities networks: Māori and local government: problems and possibilities
Channel: e socsci
Date: 2018-05-15

There are two major dimensions to the relationship local government and Māori – the issue of Māori representation within local bodies, and the issue of the relationship between local bodies and Māori communities. On the issue of representation, there are claims of racism from those both for and against the institution of Māori wards on local bodies. Further, the Auckland Independent Māori Statutory Board offers an alternative model for Māori inclusion in local body structures. What are the pros and cons of these different models? And why is Māori representation in local government a crucial issue we need to grapple with? On the issue of the relationship between local government and Māori communities, we are now well into the era in which many iwi and hapū around the motu have finalised historical settlements with the Crown. These Māori communities have new resources and mechanisms (such as co-governance arrangements) to facilitate them to pursue their aspirations. But what is the role of local government entities in supporting them? And how are local bodies working on their own structures and processes to make the most of the new possibilities in their regions and to do their best to support iwi and hapū development? While we tend to talk about ‘Māori and the Crown’, Māori communities are regionally based and local government has an important role to play in supporting or hindering Māori development in the post Treaty settlement era. This panel discussion will provide insights into some of the difficulties and possibilities in, and the national importance of, Māori-local government relationships.

Panellists:

Dr Maria Bargh (Te Arawa, Ngāti Awa) is Head of School and Senior Lecturer in Te Kawa a Māui, School of Māori Studies, Victoria University of Wellington. She researches and teaches in the areas of Māori politics, including Iwi, local and general elections, and Māori resource management.

Brandi Hudson (Ngāti Maniapoto, Rarua, Pikiao) is the CEO of the Independent Māori Statutory Board. Brandi leads the Board’s secretariat to provide policy, planning, strategy and legal advice to the Board who have full voting rights on the Auckland Council. The role of the Board is to ensure that the council meets its statutory and Treaty obligations and to promote the aspirations and issues of significance to Māori in Tāmaki Makaurau.

Lena Henry (Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa) is a Lecturer in Planning at the University of Auckland. She teaches and researches on Māori and resource management, iwi planning and development, community planning, local government and policy and planning.