Manager Māori Strategy and Relations Manager, Te Waka Angamua, Johnnie Freeland, talks about the progress Māori and the council have made together over the past five years and some challenges for the future.
Johnnie says that from a Māori responsiveness perspective, the council has a greater consciousness as an organisation and a greater level of understanding of what Te Tiriti o Waitangi means for Auckland and for our Māori communities.
“Two key factors that have helped enable that consciousness is the role of the Independent Māori Statutory Board (IMSB) and the outcome of the treaty settlement process that is still underway within the group.”
Echoing Johnnie’s comments, Auckland Council’s Chief Executive Stephen Town says that the foundations of the work are in the Auckland Plan and this has been followed through by the development of local board plans and is key to the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan which is now being consulted on.
“It’s great to see the depth of the work we have done over the past five years, but as Johnnie says, we are now getting to the starting block and need to get on with doing things with Māori that will make a difference.”
