Te Tatau o Te Arawa calling for board nominees

Councillor Trevor Maxwell (left), chief executive Geoff Williams, Te Tatau o Te Arawa chairman Te Taru White and Te Arawa Lakes Trust deputy chairman Geoff Rolleston. Photo / File

Te Tatau o Te Arawa is calling for board nominees as its election campaign gets under way today.

There were 14 trustee positions available on the Te Tatau o Te Arawa board for representatives of Koeke, Rangatahi, Ngāti Whakaue, Te Arawa Iwi / Hapū, Te Arawa Land Trusts & Incorporation and the Pan-Te Arawa Entitiessectors of Te Arawa.

Nominations open from today.

Te Tatau executive officer Jude Pani, said the Te Arawa partnership with Rotorua Lakes Council wasn't rooted in legislation but is a response to the call from local iwi.

Te Tatau o Te Arawa was not a separate committee from the main committees of the council, instead the members were appointed on these committees with decision-making and voting rights on council's main projects, she said.

"Instead of sitting outside, we're now inside. And while there's still room for improvement, it's certainly a huge leap forward from what we've had in the past."

Outgoing Te Tatau board member, Ana Morrison, said it had been great to help shape a new model and new way of thinking for a big organisation, such as a local government.

Morrison had enjoyed the diversity of the board and said it was important there was a lot of environmental resource management knowledge among its members.

"While it was a privilege being a foundation board member, it's a big obligation and responsibility in terms of time, availability, and being able to represent the views of such a large group (Te Arawa) in a formal government structure.

"In terms of technical skills, people with knowledge about infrastructure, resource management and water – along with cultural competency, which is just a given – would be really useful."

"It's a good challenge and a great opportunity for people who are interested in policy and influencing local government from a community approach – things that actually mean a lot to people who live in the region – and influencing change which makes a real-life difference for families living in Rotorua."

Nomination forms can be obtained from Te Tatau o Te Arawa or downloaded from the Te Tatau website and must be completed and returned to the Deputy Returning Officer by noon on June 19.

Voting papers will be distributed on July 17 and voting will close on August 9.

Anyone wishing to vote in the Te Tatau o Te Arawa Board election must be enrolled on the Te Arawa Lakes Trust Register and electoral roll and be 18 or over.