10 M Ä ORI REPRESENTATIO N IN LO CAL GOVE R N M E N T When adjusted for the number of voters/seats in each constituency, the appropriate comparison is closer to Tauranga 3250, Rotorua 2500, Eastern BOP 2500, Western BOP 1600 and the two Mäori constituencies 1500. The voter turnout was highest in the urban centres, and lowest in the Western BOP and Mäori constituencies. Voter turnout generally in 2007 was low at 42 per cent (Environment Bay of Plenty, 2008, p.22). · facilitate tangata whenua input into council’s policy development and implementation work Once elected, the Mäori councillors have the same roles and responsibilities as other councillors, and serve on a range of council committees. Councillor Raewyn Bennett, for example, chairs the council’s Policy and Planning Committee. · develop and oversee processes for council to receive iwi/hapü management plans A representation review conducted by the council and the Local Government Commission in 2007 resulted in changes to constituency boundaries, a reduction in the number of general councillors by one, and retention of the three Mäori constituencies (Environment Bay of Plenty, 2008). The Mäori committee The Mäori committee is one of the standing committees of council and its purpose is to: · consider governance issues relating to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and council’s legislative obligations to Mäori · oversee council’s work to build the capacity of Mäori to contribute to council’s decisionmaking processes. Its roles are to: · monitor council’s compliance with its obligations to Mäori under the Local Government Act 2002 and the Resource Management Act 1991 · provide tangata whenua inputs on community outcome matters for the Bay of Plenty region · develop processes to enhance Mäori capacity to contribute to council’s decision-making processes · support iwi/hapü to prepare management plans · provide advice to council on effective consultation mechanisms and processes for Mäori · advise the council, iwi and government departments on Treaty and Foreshore and Seabed settlements (Environment Bay of Plenty (b), nd). The Treaty settlement role has currently assumed particular significance, because negotiations are occurring on seven Treaty claims in the region. The Mäori committee was established in 2006. Membership currently includes all three Mäori councillors. It is chaired by one of the other councillors, Robin Forde, and also includes councillor Malcolm Whitaker and, ex officio, Council Chair John Cronin. Other councillors are free to attend and some do. Committee meetings are held on marae throughout the region, and standing orders are flexibly applied to encourage maximum participation by Mäori. The council does not have a Mäori advisory or liaison committee or an iwi and hapü forum. In contrast to many other councils, its Mäori committee looks outward to the people and meets in the community, rather than being an