This is a standing committee of Council. The purpose is to forge an ongoing and meaningful partnership between Tauranga City Council and Tangata Whenua.
Our vision is Tauranga Moana Tauranga Tangata - Our place our people
Whakatauāki
Rapua te huarahi whānui, hei ara whakapiri i ngā iwi e rua i runga i te whakaaro kotahi
Seek the broad highway that will unite the two peoples toward a common goal
Membership
Tauranga City Council members
- Mayor Mahé Drysdale
- Deputy Mayor Jen Scoular
- Councillor Hautapu Baker
- Councillor Kevin Schuler
- Councillor Mikaere Sydney (and during his leave of absence Cr Rod Taylor)
Tangata Whenua members: 6 members from Te Rangapū Mana Whenua o Tauranga Moana
- Ms Matire Duncan
- Mr Puhirake Ihaka
- Ms Kura Martin
- Mr Whitiora McLeod
- Mr Buddy Mikaere
- Ms Destiny Leaf
Meeting frequency: Six meetings a year to be held on marae.
Partners
Tauranga City Council and "nga hapu me nga iwi o Tauranga Moana" representing Tangata Whenua within the Tauranga City Council rohe (boundaries). Tangata Whenua representatives are to be those with signed hapu protocols. One of the six Tangata Whenua representatives is to be a Kaumatua. Kaumatua representation is to have the ability to be shared between two Kaumatua if required.
Background
Council is committed to establishing and monitoring appropriate links with Tangata Whenua to enable effective relationships to develop and meet a number of legislative requirements including those under the Resource Management Act 1991 and the Local Government Act.
- Tangata Whenua are deemed to be the respective Iwi and Hapū of Tauranga Moana.
- The Local Government Act 1974 and Local Government Act 2002 contain provisions relating to the exercise of the powers, functions and duties of the Tauranga City Council.
Principles of the partnership
The Partners:
- Recognise the Treaty of Waitangi as the founding document of Aotearoa NZ.
- Will work with respect, goodwill, honesty, trust and integrity toward the other party and celebrate cultural diversity.
- Recognise that the relationship is a mutual two-way relationship and any changes of the agreement need to involve discussions and agreement between the partners.
- Recognise the need for Tauranga City Council to work within a legislative framework.
- Recognise the independence of each partner, including:
- The tangata whenua representatives as a voice for the Māori communities;
- Recognise the independence of hapū and iwi;
- The Council as a democratic decision maker, responsible to the community as a whole.
Role and scope:
- To forge an ongoing effective and meaningful partnership between the Tauranga City Council and Tangata Whenua.
- To facilitate meaningful understanding of future impacts on key issues affecting Tangata Whenua and Māori that Council can influence.
The functions and key tasks are:
- To bring to the other partner's attention issues / concerns in respect of existing strategy or policy.
- To exchange information of mutual interest.
- To discuss new initiatives approaches and directions.
- Agree agenda topics for the following three consecutive meetings.
Communication:
- To educate the wider community on Tangata Whenua issues.
- To establish and maintain communication and consultation channels within the Council organisation and Tangata Whenua groups.
Monitoring:
- To regularly monitor projects, policies and strategies managed or under development by Council which affect Tangata Whenua.
- To regularly monitor progress of key issues identified by Tangata Whenua through reporting of Council and the Tangata Whenua Collective (Te Rangapū Mana Whenua o Tauranga Moana).
- To monitor the on-going development and process of the Standing Committee.
Power to recommend:
- To Council or any Standing Committee as it deems appropriate.
- Reports to Council.