together alongside staff to ensure Treaty-based practice is embedded in the organisation. This includes fulfilling the Commission’s responsibilities to protect rangatiratanga and promote full participation and equal rights for Tangata Whenua. Other strategies include prioritising tikanga Mäori, mätauranga Mäori and te reo Mäori in all aspects of the Commission’s work and upholding the Commission’s values of whanaungatanga (relationships), mäia, tika, pono (courage and integrity) and mana tangata (human dignity). Federation committed to a Treaty-based Multicultural New Zealand The New Zealand Federation of Multicultural Councils, with support from Network Waitangi Ötautahi, developed a new resource31 which described its understanding and practice of the Treaty. The resource, A Treaty-based Multicultural New Zealand, sets out the Federation’s commitment to the Treaty and to a multicultural society based on the Treaty. The resource is being shared so that other organisations can consider developing their own statements. A Treaty-based Multicultural New Zealand is available from both the Federation of Multicultural Councils website and the Network Waitangi Ötautahi website. Councils urged to make decisions with Mäori Councils need to do more to build their understanding of kaitiakitanga and their relationships with Mäori iwi and hapü, according to a national survey carried out by Te Puni Kökiri. Councils exercising their duties and powers under the Resource Management Act (RMA) are required to have particular regard to the Treaty and kaitiakitanga: the guardianship and custodial protection by an iwi or hapü over land and other taonga (treasure). The UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP article 25) protects the right of iwi and hapü to maintain lands, waterways and natural resources. Despite these provisions, the Kaitiaki Survey showed that some local and regional councils are failing to meaningfully engage with Mäori and that several councils need to take steps to ensure iwi and hapü are participating in environmental and RMA work. This lack of engagement is made worse by the significant underrepresentation of Mäori in local government. Very few council seats are held by Mäori, despite the fact that councils have powers to introduce dedicated Mäori seats. In 2013, several new collaborations were established between hapü and councils, including initiatives in 36 Northland and Bay of Plendy to revitalise traditional waterways. Hawke’s Bay Regional Council announced plans to partner with the Ngäti Pahauwera iwi to form a legislated environment committee. Mäori economic growth continues The influence of Mäori investment and business ventures on Aotearoa New Zealand’s economy continued to increase in 2013, with the worth of the Mäori economy estimated to be at least $37 billion.32 The Mäori Economic Development Unit was established to drive the implementation of He Kai Kei Aku Ringa – the Mäori Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan.33 The new Unit, which sits within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, is aiming to support the development of an innovative Mäori economy by focusing on education, natural resources and Mäori working together to drive growth. During 2013, the settlement of Treaty claims enabled several iwi to establish new business ventures and investments. Many of these were in agriculture, with several big dairy ventures launched including Miraka Limited, a new dairy processing company. New areas of Mäori business innovation were also explored including opportunities in geothermal energy and technology. Iwi economic initiatives continued to provide a platform for social development, with many providing training, scholarships and career opportunities to iwi descendants and tauiwi. The Bank of New Zealand also announced plans to create 10 cadet positions for Mäori in the business banking sector. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment published a snapshot of the Mäori economy in 2013. It is available at: www.mbie.govt.nz/what-we-do/maorieconomic-development/maori-economy-factsheet-236kb-pdf. Asset sales spark urgent action Government plans for the partial sale of Mighty River Power, Genesis, Meridian and Solid Energy sparked debate in 2013. The partial sale required the four state-owned energy companies to be removed from the State-Owned Enterprises Act, meaning that they would no longer be subject to provisions in section 9 of the Act which require the Crown to act in a manner consistent with the Treaty. The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was among those who raised concerns about the impact of partial privatisation on Mäori rights and interests in natural resources. It called on the New