"We are here because we are not happy with the initial proposal, specifically the voting rights within the committee, it seems an undemocratic way of conducting council's business. "
Rotorua's Joan Taikato said she attended to find out more about the proposal.
" . . . all I've heard was very biased rhetoric," she said.
Mr Williams said whether the plan went ahead or not, the council would be looking to making a stronger commitment to Te Arawa. "We see that there are three reasons for this. The first is that council has made a commitment to involving a new model with Te Arawa.
"The second is recognition of Te Arawa. Thirdly, as an organisation, we are officially demonstrating council have involved Te Arawa in our decisions."
Former district councillor Bob Martin addressed the group in the question session following the talk. "It's hurting me to see Rotorua being torn apart."
Former district councillor Cliff Lee said he was part of the Rotorua Pro-Democracy Society. He was concerned the Te Arawa proposal would be divisive.
"The anger is bubbling back stronger. The majority of people here today just don't accept the line that officials are taking. That's not democratic.
"I have seen what racial discrimination can do; it's not nice. This whole event will divide the people of Rotorua."
The model proposed by Te Arawa was approved "in principle", and for consultation purposes only, by the council with a majority vote of 10-3 in December. The proposal could see the establishment of an iwi board outside of the council structure to replace the former Te Arawa Standing Committee.
Te Arawa would appoint or elect a board of up to 14 people with two representatives - with voting rights - to sit on the council's Operations and Monitoring Committee and on its Strategy, Policy and Finance Committee, with one on the Chief Executive Performance Committee and another representative on Resource Management Act hearings panels.
The next session will be held at 5.30pm tonight in the Lake Okareka Hall.
