Prime Minister Chris Hipkins might be about to take on the mantle of explaining what co-governance means to his Government, and the extent to which it wants to see partnership arrangements with iwi/Maori for the management of natural resources and elsewhere at central and local government level.
Yesterday he denied that their new water reform plan and the previous iterations of Three Waters policies involved co-governance.
He will argue that governance of the water services entities (whether four or now 10) is by a professional board; however, these boards will be appointed by and accountable to regional groups comprised of council and mana whenua representatives on a 50/50 basis.
Hipkins will also be arguing against many statements of Labour Ministers and MPs defending and extolling the co-governance aspects of Three Waters; and the relief of iwi that the Government has retained co-governance in the new plan.
It has been one of the most serious indictments on this Government that it has not had a senior Minister making the case clearly and repeatedly for such an important constitutional development — with repercussions for race relations in this country, as it has allowed the vacuum to be filled by the views of others.
