Council keen to 'magnify voice and status of mana whenua' in resource planning

Gisborne District Council  has invited iwi on to the Tairāwhiti Resource Management Plan Committee, a joint decision-making body “with full powers of council”.

The plans were detailed in briefing notes provided by the council to Cyclone Recovery Minister Grant Robertson “to provide Te Tiriti partnership context” for an upcoming visit to Tairāwhiti.

The document — released to The Gisborne Herald under the Official Information Act — shows the council is committed to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and strengthening its relationship with tangata whenua.

“Our approach to Te Tiriti, and partnership under Te Tiriti, is progressive for local government, proactive in response to future requirements and designed to magnify the voice and status of mana whenua first,” the document states.

“The position of central government as the Treaty partner in this dynamic requires consideration.

“We feel our intent and approach to Treaty relationships is progressive and ahead of its time where the local government sector is concerned.

“We have unanimous endorsement from full council and senior leadership, who are right behind the direction we are taking.”

The notes go on to say the council “is transitioning away” from taking the Treaty into account in order to “give effect” to te Tiriti.

“We have continued to attempt to work with tangata whenua to develop a regional shared decision-making forum that has the full powers of council”.

The talks were  around establishing the Tairāwhiti Resource Management Plan Committee  - which was established last year under the committees of council.

However, those attempts have stalled “due to lack of response or desire to engage”, the document stated.

“While we have a motivated set of leadership in our elected members and executive staff, a partnership can only occur when both/all parties are ready to proceed.”

A steering group of operational representatives from each iwi and council are exploring what a joint decision-making body might look and feel like.

That body — involving Ngāti Porou, Ngai Tamanuhiri, Te Aitanga a Mahaki and the council — met for the first and so far only time in August of 2022.

The document stated efforts were being made to bring everyone back to the table, along with Rongowhakaata.

“Council has also made an in-principle decision to delegate powers of council to this committee, so any decisions made by iwi and council would be final,” the document said.

The committee will consist of 50/50 membership. Iwi were invited to nominate members to the committee in February 2023.

“Recently, the Mayor has followed up on this invitation.

“This committee would cease should council and iwi (through the steering group) co-design a preferred regional forum and want decisions on regional plans to be a designation of that regional governance forum.

“The TRMP review committee is not a proxy or replacement for our intent to have authentic, Te Tiriti-centric partnership.”

Correction to original article:

Gisborne District Council is not entering a co-governance arrangement for all decision-making, as indicated in this story as it ran on Saturday headlined “Co-governance talks: District council keen to ‘magnify voice and status of mana whenua’ ".
The co-governance arrangement outlined in the article applies to the Tairāwhiti Resource Management Plan Committee, which was established last year under the committees of council. This arrangement was discussed in staff papers and at council meetings in October 2021 and November 2022.
Delegations to that committee relate to the Unitary Plan — in so far as it is permitted under the Resource Management Act (now repealed). RMA reforms via the Natural and Built Environment Act 2023 established Spatial Planning Committees which provide for this committee set up by Gisborne District Council.
Apologies for the misunderstanding.