Henderson-Massey Local Board is committed to working with local Māori to support their rights, interests and aspirations and to provide opportunities for Māori to contribute to Auckland.
“The council has affirmed the Māori Responsiveness Framework to help the Auckland Council whanau implement its responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi,” says Henderson-Massey Local Board member and Māori issues lead Paula Bold-Wilson.
“Our board takes these responsibilities seriously. We are developing our own Māori Responsiveness Plan."
"Research is underway to complete a mapping exercise to identify opportunities and connections between west Auckland Māori and the council, and among west Auckland Māori themselves."
"Our board has allocated $30,000 to implement the future research recommendations.”
Four key initiatives
The board has also funded four initiatives that are specifically focused on partnering with Māori.
The board will work with local mana whenua as kaitiaki on a Pā Harakeke environmental project. Various sites in the Henderson-Massey area have been selected in collaboration with local mana whenua.
A partnership with Te Whanau o Waipareira on a rangatahi empowerment programme, Nga Kawa o Tangaroa Tikanga, will use developing water skills, including kai moana gathering, as a way to reconnect rangatahi to their culture and families.
The board will fund Te Whanau o Waipareira’s Waitangi Day celebrations at Hoani Waititi Marae.
Māori Enterprise is a programme designed in partnership with Māori. It will identify economic opportunities for young Māori. The workshops will provide participants with tools and techniques for creative thinking, collaboration, leadership and entrepreneurial logic which they can put into action to achieve their goals.
