Public Service Cuts: Te Arawhiti reshapes, 49 roles cut as focus shifts to historical claims

The Beehive. Illustration / Te Ao Māori News

• The Office of Māori-Crown Relations will disestablish 49 roles to align with its budget.
• Interim chief executive Anaru Mill announced the changes, which include transferring 44 roles to Te Puni Kōkiri.
• Te Arawhiti will focus on historical Treaty settlements and Takutai Moana Act claims.

The Office of Māori-Crown Relations says 49 roles will be disestablished as the organisation races to become “right-sized for its budget and more focused functions”.

The announcement comes a little over two months before Te Arawhiti’s focus will be reduced to historical claims only for breaches of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, as well as Takutai Moana (Marine and Coastal Area) Act claims.

That refocus will also see an additional 44 roles at Te Arawhiti saved, by transferring them to Te Puni Kōkiri, with some of the Māori-Crown relations office’s responsibilities, including:

- monitoring and reporting on the implementation of Treaty settlement commitments;

- leading post-settlement relationships;

- co-ordinating significant events on behalf of the Crown;

- providing strategic advice on the distinct rights, interests, and responsibilities of iwi, hapū and Māori, except as they relate to Treaty settlement and Takutai Moana matters; and

- ensuring the public service has the capability to engage effectively with Māori.

Interim chief executive Anaru Mill made the announcement yesterday afternoon, intending to provide certainty ahead of the Christmas break.

“The staff at Te Arawhiti have shown the utmost professionalism in continuing to deliver on our strategic priorities of restoring, sustaining, and growing the Māori Crown relationship during this tumultuous time,” he said in a statement.

“I want to acknowledge how challenging this process has been for our staff, particularly those who have been impacted by the change proposals and today’s final decisions. The announcement follows a consultation period throughout November.”

Mill said 74 submissions were received by staff, stating the feedback “has shaped our final decisions”.

In August, the Cabinet decided in principle to transfer functions from Te Arawhiti to Te Puni Kōkiri, and confirmed those functions in October.

The following functions will remain with Te Arawhiti:

- completing historical Treaty settlements;

- administering the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011 and Ngā Rohe Moana o Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Porou Act 2019; and

- providing strategic advice on Māori rights and interests as it relates to Treaty settlements and Takutai Moana determinations.

Mills said the two departments had “worked closely together” to ensure a smooth transfer.

“To make these changes successful for Māori and the Crown, we will need to stay in lockstep going forward. It’s important that iwi Māori have confidence in the Government’s ability to collectively uphold their Treaty settlements, rights and interests, and that we can demonstrate what it takes to uphold the mana of the Crown.”