Māori appointments to council committees 'a long time coming': Mayor.

Wednesday, 10 October 2018

The five newly-minted Māori seats on four Hamilton City Council committees have been filled.

Council approved the appointments on Wednesday. Four of the appointments represent iwi and one is a pan-tribal/mātāwaka appointment.

Norman Hill, a strategic advisor, joins the Growth and Infrastructure Committee; Bella Takiari-Brame, a chartered accountant, is on the Finance Committee; Te Pora Thompson a consultant in the social sector, is on the Community, Services and Environment Committee and; James Whetu, a certified RMA commissioner, is on the Regulatory and Hearings Committee.

Former council general manager and army reserve Lieutenant Colonel Olly Te Ua represents mātāwaka on the Community, Services and Environment Committee.

Hamilton Mayor Andrew King said the appointments mark the beginning of a new era for partnership-based decision making for the city.

'We're enormously proud to be at a point where we can take these brave steps towards providing meaningful representation for Māori,' King said. 'It's been a long time coming and we're committed to making it work.'

Each appointee was chosen from more than 40 applicants by a Waikato Tainui, Te Runanga o Kirikiriroa and Te Haa o te Whenua o Kirikiriroa selection panel. They will hold the title of Māngai  Māori or 'the Māori voice'.

Waikato Tainui executive chairwoman Rukumoana Schaafhausen said there was a high calibre of candidates.

'I am confident that they will advocate an iwi and Māori perspective and this will ultimately lead to a much more informed decision-making process,' Schaafhausen said.

The Māngai Māori will be welcomed to council headquarters at a ceremony on Thursday, October 11, and take up their new roles the following week.