Government and council capability

Wai 796: The Report on the Management of the Petroleum Resource

“[Under ‘Systemic problems in the current regime’ We consider that there are fundamental flaws in the operation of the current regime for managing the petroleum resource which arise from the combined effect of the following features…” “the low level of engagement with te ao Māori and Māori perspectives exhibited by central and local government decision-makers.”

Wai 863: Wairarapa ki Tararua Report 

We recommend that the Government commit to a comprehensive review of these Acts that achieves…” “substantial upskilling of council staff and councillors in understanding the Māori world-view, including enhanced skills in te reo Māori me ōna tikanga (the Māori language and related customs). Councils should also be required to provide incoming councillors and new staff with information and education material on (among other matters) local tribal boundaries and significant sites ; local tribal organisations, trust boards, corporations and leaders ; the current Treaty discourse ; Treaty settlements ; and Crown Treaty obligations and how they are expressed in the Resource Management Act 1991 and local government legislation.”

Wai 215: Tauranga Moana 1886–2006 – Report on the Post-Raupatu Claims Volume 2

Further, their largely unsuccessful battles show that the values of Tauranga Māori, particularly those of a spiritual nature, are not well understood by the general public or local authorities, and are often given little weight in their planning processes.”

Wai 215: Tauranga Moana 1886–2006 – Report on the Post-Raupatu Claims Volume 2

“There is tremendous and largely untapped potential for Tauranga Māori to play a much greater role as kaitiaki over the environments of Tauranga Moana, and to help restore their ancestral landscapes and the taonga of their waterways. Realising their desire to be kaitiaki will require much more constructive working relationships to be forged between tangata whenua, councils, and the wider community. There is considerable scope for such relationships under current legislation; what is required is a greater willingness to realise the enormous potential benefits from Māori involvement.”