February 01, 2019
Iwi chairs monitor government performance
A prominent member of the Iwi Chairs Forum says the forum feels it should have a greater input into government policies.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and several of her ministers attended the Forum in Waitangi today, but unlike the previous National-Māori Party Government they do not consider it the main point of contact with Māoridom.
Haami Piripi from Te Rārawa says iwi leaders have put a lot of effort in recent years into considering the constitutional status of iwi, and that has given them the basis for a better relationship with government.
He says the crown needs to recognise the partnership with iwi established by the Treaty of Waitangi and the importance of iwi being able to measure the quality of the relationship.
"If you apply that to an issue like housing for example, we know there are huge disparities in housing among Māori communities, what kind of lens do we put that in to make sure we achieve some kind of equity," Mr Piripi says.
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