The Dunedin City Council’s Te Pae Māori committee met for the first time yesterday since its elevation to a formal standing committee at the start of the term.
Te Rūnaka o Ōtākou upoko and committee co-chairman Edward Ellison said such a forum to discuss and progress ideas had not previously existed.
‘‘Te Pae is important. We see ... this current phase that we're in now is a significant move forward in terms of building on that partnership in a forum where we can openly bring our strategic thinking, which will develop as we go forward.’’
Co-chairwoman and mayor Sophie Barker said yesterday’s meeting was a useful opportunity to determine what outcomes participants hoped to take from Te Pae.
‘‘I think that we are working our way to make sure that we have a very good mana-to-mana forum that works for all of us.’’
Te Pae Māori was elevated to a formal standing committee in November, under Ms Barker’s governance model, and is comprised of four mana whenua representatives, one mātāwaka (non-Kāi Tahu Māori) representative and five councillors.
The council’s committee structure and delegation document described Te Pae Māori as ‘‘providing a trusted and enduring relationship for dialogue, partnership and advice’’.
Much of yesterday’s meeting was spent ironing out processes surrounding the committee and its delegations.
Members considered an activity report on the committee’s forward work programme and approved the development of an engagement process with consultancy Aukaha.
The committee also considered key priority areas for mana whenua — a discussion which encompassed, among other matters, the council’s Future Development Strategy, infrastructure, climate change and cultural events in Dunedin.
The mātāwaka representative is still to be appointed and yesterday the committee noted expressions of interest for the role would be invited from the Māori community.
Last term, all councillors were members. However, this risked overwhelming mana whenua and mātāwaka representation, council chief executive Sandy Graham said.
‘‘All councillors are welcome to attend ... but are not able to speak at the meeting unless they are members of the committee.’’
The committee is expected to meet three times annually.
