Wellington City Council set to sign MOU to establish 'partnership relationship' with iwi

Sunday, 26 March 2017

An artist's impression of a proposed development at Shelly Bay. An MOU will be signed between Wellington City Council and iwi, which sets out the importance of the area's significant landowners working together.

Iwi will work closely with Wellington City Council on Shelly Bay's development as the two move to create stronger ties under a Memorandum of Understanding to be signed this week.

On Wednesday, Wellington Mayor Justin Lester and and council chief executive Kevin Lavery will sign the MOU at a council meeting at Pipitea Marae.

The MOU will define the relationship between the council, Taranaki Whanui ki te Upoko o te Ika (Taranaki Whanui) and Te Runanga o Toa Rangatira Inc for Ngati Toa Rangatira (Te Runanga).

It will replace previous MOUs and acknowledge the 'partnership relationship' between the council and iwi.

Council papers for the meeting include a schedule of specific recognitions that set out how the entities will work together on key project

These include: Shelly Bay, the town belt, significant cultural or commercial developments, the right of first refusal interests, the implementation of the Porirua Harbour and catchment strategy and action plan as well as Taputeranga Island and Oruaiti reserves.

'As significant landowners at Shelly Bay, the parties recognise the importance of working together to ensure a wider strategic vision for the Miramar Peninsula is achieved for all citizens,' the papers state.

They state the strategic relationship will give iwi the opportunity to contribute to council decision-making and be a provider of leadership, with the council, for the city.

Runanga will be entitled to appoint a non-voting member to the council's city strategy committee and will have input into the key planning processes of the council, as a non-voting member of the Annual Plan and Long-Term Plan committees.

The parties are in discussions about forming a leaders' forum to identify key projects and ensure the intent of the MOU has traction.