Enhancing our iwi relationships is important to us but it also requires a lot of kōrero with many parties.
Along with our legal obligations to consult and engage, the development of better relationships with our iwi partners and Māori communities takes commitment, leadership and investment.
In doing so, we create mutual benefits which bring all parties together.
Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa – keep close together, not wide apart.
Fortunately, we have an amazing group of people within our Council whānau whose job is to assist with effective and appropriate engagement with nine local iwi and partner organisations, as well as underlining our statutory obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Our Te Kāhui Hononga team is based in the Chief Executive Office and consists of Kaihautū Hononga Renee Thomas, Kaitohutohu Hononga Nell Kelly, and Kaiāwhina Hononga Kimiora McGregor.
They are also assisted by Kelly Hayes who is with us on a fixed-term cadetship role under Te Aka Pūkenga programme.
Edna Brownlee is still part of the team in an ex-officio role, and she now works from Ōtautahi where she gets to spend more time with her mokopuna.
Hui, field trips and cultural events keep these wāhine busy throughout the week – and often the weekends – while their presence in the office environment has also helped support staff and gain more insight into Te Ao Māori.
In recent months, there have been some important developments that have strengthened council-iwi relations.
This includes the historic signing of the Together Te Tauihu partnership agreement between eight iwi and Tasman, Nelson and Marlborough councils, as well as Tasman’s appointment of iwi representatives to our council committees.