1. MāoriRepresentationinLocalGovernment Joris de Bres Race Relations Commissioner NZ Diversity Forum August 2010

2. Why consider the issue now? Royal Commission on Auckland Governance recommended Māori seats Government rejected the proposal 2010 Race Relations Report identified Māori representation as a priority in election year Māori remain seriously underrepresented in local government HRC Environment Bay of Plenty case study

3. Environment Bay of Plenty Council conducted hearings and obtained special legislation in 2001 Option extended to all councils in 2002 by Local Electoral Amendment Act Council has had three Maori constituencies since 2004 No other council has uplifted the option

4. EBOP: HRC Case Study 2010 Councillors, managers and staff generally enthusiastic about the system BOP iwi positive about the improved participation in decision making Māori Committee a standing committee of Council and engages with hapū and iwi Māori Policy Unit supports Maori Committee and hapū and iwi

5. EBOP: DIA case study 2009 “The establishment of Māori constituency seats is a key mechanism utilised to facilitate Māori input and participation into council.” “While council and Māori acknowledge its practical effect in giving Māori a voice at the decision making table, they also recognise that the Māori seats are a symbol of the validation and respect of Māori as tangata whenua.”

6. Royal Commission on Auckland Recommendations two Māori seats elected by voters on the Māori Electoral Roll a Mana Whenua Forum, appointed by mana whenua of the Auckland region A mana whenua seat appointed by members of the Mana Whenua Forum

7. Select Committee Report Noted that large number of submitters supported Māori seats Urged the Auckland Council to carefully consider establishing Māori representation should there be community support for this Noted that mechanism for this provided by Local Electoral Act 2001 Identified need to consider adequacy of national legislation on Māori representation separately

8. Statutory Māori Advisory Board General functions: (a) act in accordance with its purpose and functions and ensure it does not contravene the purpose for which it was established Specific function: To appoint a maximum of 2 persons to sit on subcommittees dealing with natural and physical resources

9. Te UruroaFlavell: Private Member’s Bill 2010 Proposed change to Local Electoral Act to base Māori seats on population not enrolment Present system if fully implemented would produce 117 Māori seats (12.7%) Proposed system would produce 199 Māori seats (21.5%). Current Māori representation is 4.8%

10. Survey of local government The Human Rights Commission has surveyed all territorial authorities and regional councils to establish whether they have considered introducing Māori seats Results of that survey will be presented today by Dr Judith Pryor.

11. Recommendations Iwi should discuss whether or not they want Māori seats on their local or regional council New Auckland Council should proceed to establish Māori seats without further ado, subject to re-endorsement by Auckland iwi Discussions should take place between councils and iwi on Māori seats and Māori representation prior to next representation review (in 2011) Councils should support the Māori choice There should be further national discussion on improved provision for Māori representation