Sharples weighs in on council rift

Board chairman David Taipari. Photo / Supplied

Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples has called for urgent negotiations to repair a growing rift between Auckland Council and its Maori Statutory Board.

The board has hired a barrister to prepare legal action against the Auckland Council for slashing its 2011/2012 budget from $3.4m to $1.9m in a close decision last night.

Its chair David Taupiri said that the funding cut was unlawful, as the council was bound by legislation to meet the reasonable costs of the board.

Dr Sharples said the council needs to get used to a Maori board with real authority and work constructively with it.

He urged both parties to go to the negotiating table before proceeding with legal action.

"The law requires the council and the board to act reasonably toward each other, and to work together in good faith. A major slashing of the board's budget is not an auspicious start to the relationship. Before matters get worse, there should be urgent and open negotiations for a funding agreement, as the Act intends.

"I also hope the board's appeal to the Court for a declaratory judgment is simply a way of clarifying uncertainty, and does not set a pattern of adversarial relationships between the Council and the board in future."

He blasted Local Government Minister Rodney Hide for saying he never agreed with Maori having special representation on the Council.

The advisory board was only set up because Mr Hide threatened to resign if a proposal for designated Maori seats was supported, said Mr Sharples.

"Minister Hide is now responsible for the law passed by the Parliament. Calling the Board an advisory body, or saying he didn't want it, is not helpful. If he cannot accept the decision, Mr Hide should carry out his threat to resign."

Mr Taupiri this morning accused councillors of stirring up a public outcry over the board's funding.

He said the board had sought the help of an independent consultant and worked with council officers to ensure it was asking for a reasonable level of funding.

"As soon as the Council produces one statement or shred of evidence relating to our unreasonable costs then I'm happy to hear it.

"Instead we've been told our budget has been cut because of public outcry. Why is there public outcry - because of the misinformation that's been provided by some councillors."

Mayor Len Brown last night played down the looming legal battle.

He praised councillors for reaching a reasonable budget that represented the sometimes-emotive view of the community.

The board was entitled to seek a declaratory judgment, which normally was dealt with quickly, he said.

Asked what would happen if the board won, Mr Brown said: "We will deal with that at the time. But we have made the decision today with the best information to hand after a long process of debate ... and a budget we want to work forward from."

The council also voted to formally request the Government to clarify the intentions of its legislation, and set up a working part of three councillors - Alf Filipaina, Des Morrison and Penny Webster - to work with the Maori board to agree on a final budget and work plan for 2011-2012.