Justice Joseph (Joe) Williams, a Judge of the High Court, and former Chair of the Waitangi Tribunal as well as former Chief Judge of the Maori Land Court, is the keynote speaker at this month's Tauranga conference for Bay of Plenty Maori.
The one-day conference, Te Toanga Mai o Te Ra, or "the
rising of the sun" is aimed at Maori living in, or with an interest in, the Bay of Plenty and will be hosted by Bay of Plenty Regional Council at Tauranga's TECT at Arena Baypark on Monday, April 23. So far 180 people have registered.
Judge Williams would discuss Maori into the future and the use of Maori land.
Human Rights Commissioner Joris de Bres would lead sessions on constitutional reform, the Maori role in local government and engaging with councils, led by Auckland University Maori Studies Professor Ann Sullivan and Te Mana o Ngati Rangtihi Trust chief executive Nick Alexander.
University of Waikato Director of Maori and Indigenous Governance Research Centre, Professor Linda Te Aho would lead a session on the post-Treaty era, and Otago University senior law lecturer Jacinta Ruru would lead a session on water and Maori rights.
Inaugural NZ Fulbright Harkness Fellow Sacha McMeeking would lead a session on economic development for Maori with Regional Council chief executive Mary-Anne Macleod and Tauranga Moana Iwi Collective chairman Charlie Tawhiao.
