April 27, 2017
Iwi cash lure for council
Gisborne mayor Meng Foon says a new governance forum with Turanganui a Kiwa iwi could lead to investment by iwi in the region's infrastructure.
The council has picked its six members for the Local Leadership Body, with Rongowhakaata, Ngai Taa Manuhiri and Te Aitanga a Maahaki appointing two each.
The body was a condition of treaty settlements in the region, and Mr Foon says it will give iwi a chance to have a say on land and water management.
He says council and iwi are natural partners for infrastructure projects, as iwi want a financial return as well as wanting to improve the places they live.
"The main thing is we are sharing the load, we are sharing the input, we work together on solutions which is important and iwi get a guaranteed return without worrying about sharemarkets and equities and the property market and all that sort of stuff, so I think we are a good natural partners," Mr Foon says.
Projects on the council's wish list that could be suitable for iwi co-investment include wastewater treatment plant, water supplies to various township, and a scheduled upgrade of sewage ponds.
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