8 M Ä ORI REPRESENTATIO N IN LO CAL GOVE R N M E N T in addition to their electoral vote. While neither of these options is necessarily transferable to smaller regional or local council settings, she believes a way should be found to addressing the issue. “access to decision-making is a lot easier” and Mäori representation “has influenced the way the council operates.” He sees it as “a means to influence in a very positive way with a flow-on benefit back to the community as a whole.” Mäori councillors are strongly supportive of the arrangements. Councillor Tai Eru says, “Mäori should be sitting at the table as of right as mana whenua. At least our voice is heard and that is really important.” Councillor Raewyn Bennett says the system is “going well” and “I really don’t know how Mäori got represented before and can see how they missed out. Others try but they haven’t got that depth of understanding or commitment to Mäori issues. I would not stand in a general seat for the same reasons.” In a personal submission to the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance, she said: “If people other than Mäori are interpreting Mäori culture through the provisions in the Acts, which say “to have regard to Mäori” opinions, this is akin to patronising and an affront to Mäori. Whilst there have been very good non-Mäori advocates in these roles, allowing this to continue is politically and culturally disempowering of Mäori and is a human rights injustice.” Huikakahu Kawe, Chair of Ngäti Ranginui, “totally endorses” the arrangements. He says that for iwi “it’s the start of a journey; we’ve still got a long way to go”. Councillor Tipene Marr says: “Mäori standing committees don't work. They are just decorations to make it look like the council is listening to Mäori. We have to be at the table. We, the Mäori councillors at Evironment Bay of Plenty, have earned the respect of most of the Päkehä councillors. We inform them about the Mäori perspective, what Mäori are thinking, not what the papers and TV try to screw around to sell papers – the biased view.” Mäori in the region are also strongly positive. Te Awanui Black of Ngäti Pukenga says: “It is vitally important for tangata whenua to be there in their own right, and the best place is at the governance level.” In comparison to the iwi’s dealings with the other territorial local authorities in the region, Brian Dickson, Chief Executive of Ngäi Te Rangi, supports the arrangements “absolutely 100 per cent”. “We’ve seen how it was before and how much more acknowledgment there’s been since. Before, we didn’t have the ear or understanding of councillors. Today the Mäori councillors are constantly moving through their constituencies looking at Mäori issues and Mäori needs.” Ngäi Te Rangi Resource Management Unit Manager Dee Samuel lists among the positive results of Mäori representation the council’s support for the iwi harbour management plan for Tauranga Moana, assistance in the hearings process, a stronger Regional Policy Statement through direct iwi involvement, and a stronger process for consultation with iwi and hapü. Anthony Olsen of Tuwharetoa ki Kawerau says, “In a perfect world, Mäori representation would be dealt with in the mainstream, but it’s not. The Mäori seats are necessary on the regional council, partly because one third of the population is Mäori, one third of the land is owned by Mäori and the proportion is rising through the Treaty settlement process. Even among non-Mäori, it is generally accepted that Mäori representation is a good thing.” He says he is “100 per cent supportive” of the arrangements, and “the optimum would be for them to flow through to the district councils”. “There is a will on the part of the iwi to be a strong economic partner, to be a positive contributor to the Bay of Plenty economy and to share the benefits with everyone.”