Council welcomes Māori appointments to committees

Nelson City Council hosted a mihi whakatau to welcome four new Māori appointed members to Council committees and sub-committees on Thursday 19 May.

The roles were created by Council in May 2021 alongside the decision to establish a Māori ward for the 2022 local election, which takes place this October.

Nelson Mayor Rachel Reese says welcoming the new appointees is another positive step for Māori-Council partnership.

“Including Māori voices and perspectives in Council decision-making is putting the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi into action.

“In addition to the impressive array of skills and experience our four new committee members will bring to the Council table, they also bring their understanding of Te Ao Māori, a Māori world view.

“Expanding this view in our decision-making not only benefits Māori, but all of us as a community, and I’m excited to see our new appointees at future meetings.”

The new Māori members were recruited by the Te Waka a Māui Iwi Chairs Forum and supported by Council. They fill the first four of seven iwi endorsed Māori appointments on Council’s committees and sub-committees. Māori members are full members with voting rights.

 
Ngāti Kuia Chariperson Waihaere Mason says, “we are pleased that Iwi appointments to the Council have been made. It is a strong signal that Nelson City Council see collaboration with all sectors of our community as an important element of their governance and management processes.

“Having Iwi appointments to Council Committees now provides the opportunity for Iwi to be proactive in managing and supporting the affairs of the community.

“In this respect, Mātauranga Māori values are seen as important elements to be considered but equally important is that our Iwi members have the ability to be involved in decision making and provide technical advice to their chosen Committee. This may require respective Iwi to consider capacity and capability to support Committee representatives, to maintain that impetus.

“We look forward to building positive relationships for the well-being of all. He tōtara wāhi rua he kai nā te ahi (a tōtara split in two is food for the fire).”

Many councils in New Zealand have committees with Māori appointed members with voting rights, such as: Rotorua Lakes Council, Napier City Council, Clutha District Council, Kāpiti Coast District Council, Marlborough District Council, Auckland Council, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, and Waitaki District Council.

 
The roles are one way of providing for the inclusion of a Māori voice and perspectives in Council decision-making. They recognise the Crown’s responsibility to take appropriate account of principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and maintain and improve opportunities for Māori to contribute to local government decision-making processes.

Council committees and sub committees are created to allow the Mayor and Council to delegate decision-making in certain areas (for example infrastructure or audit risk and finance). They are comprised of elected members and appointed experts or representatives. 

Meet the new appointees:

Chanel Starkey – appointed to the Urban Development Subcommittee 

Chanel Starkey works for the Department of Corrections and says she hopes her experience and perspective will help bring the voices of underrepresented community members to the table.

“I get frustrated when I see things happening and don’t have any avenue to do anything. I think, can people not see this? Are people not seeing that? But maybe they don’t see it because they don’t deal with it every day.”

 

Tom Alesana – appointed to the Community and Recreation Committee 

Ngāti Kuia, Rangitāne o Wairau, Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, Ngāti Koata, Samoa

Tom has a background in education with experience in the early childhood, primary, secondary and tertiary sectors. He is a cultural practitioner who is passionate about te reo Māori, tikanga Māori and the realisation of mana motuhake and tino rangatiratanga.

“Learning is a lifelong journey and we have the opportunity learn from the past to shape the narrative of our city in a way that honours both partners of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.”

 

Naomi Aporo – appointed to the Infrastructure Committee  

 

Shanell Kelly – appointed to the Audit Risk and Finance Subcommittee