Maori board to vote on the budget it doesn't want

David Taipari. Photo / Supplied

Auckland's Independent Maori Statutory Board will today vote on a budget that it considers insufficient, before a court case next month to resolve its funding dispute with the Auckland Council.

The council in February cut the board's budget by more than half to $950,000, covering the eight-month period from last November to June 30.

It also cut the board's budget for the next financial year from $3.4 million to $1.9 million.

The board wants the High Court to reinstate the original sums.

The board's chairman, David Taipari, said yesterday the reduced budgets did not give the board enough money to carry out its planned work.

He said the board's request for a declaratory judgment was scheduled for a hearing in the High Court onMay 2.

Today, the board will vote on the interim budget of $950,000 allocated by the Auckland Council.

However, the board has made it clear the arrangement is only a stop-gap measure.

In a draft letter to Auckland Council chief executive Doug McKay, Mr Taipari says the $950,000 is accepted "without prejudice", until the funding agreement for the 2010/2011 financial year is agreed on between the board and the council. Conditions for the budget include that spending be in accordance with the council's long-term community plan and the board's own work programme.

Transactions are limited to $20,000 before specific authorisation from the board is needed.