Just a year after the Grey District Council declined iwi representation in a statutory review, it now proposes admitting local iwi Ngati Waewae to an equal seat at the council table.
In statement released yesterday, Mayor Tony Kokshoorn said Te Runanga o Ngati Waewae would be invited to take up the seat, without voting rights at this stage.
The Westland District Council made a similar move last year, inviting both iwi, Ngati Waewae and Makaawhio to non-voting council seats.
"The time has come for all of us to be in the waka rowing in the same direction," Mr Kokshoorn said
"Therefore having iwi representation is in keeping with the United Nations Declaration on the rights of indigenous people."
Iwi would be at the council table in "a true spirit of partnership and mutual respect".
The move would be discussed in public at the council meeting on Monday.
When the council undertook the last statutory review of ward representation in May 2018, staff reminded councillors they were legally required to consider the principle of a Maori ward, but it was not progressed.
"We've re-thought it," the mayor said today.
"We are at a point now at the Grey District Council where we need to bring them (iwi) around the table for a collaborative point of view.
"They will now get the opportunity to participate in a debate leading up to all decisions."
The future possibility of also according the iwi rep full voting rights would be considered at the next statutory review in 2020.
"Te Runanga o Ngati Waewae has no problem with this interim arrangement because discussions and debate leading to voting will be fully inclusive, involving Ngati Waewae," Mr Kokshoorn said.
- By Brendon McMahon
