Iwi seeks voice on Masterton council

Wairarapa iwi authority Te Hika o Papauma has filed a request to have a voice at the Masterton District Council table. PHOTO/FILE

A request to directly contribute to Masterton District Council's decision-making processes is to be put to the council by a mandated iwi authority at an annual plan meeting today.

Te Hika o Papauma has filed the request as part of a series of submissions.

It is not part of a recent council decision to appoint paid iwi representatives from both Kahungunu ki Wairarapa and Rangitane o Wairarapa to its Policy and Finance and Audit and Risk Committee with speaking and voting rights, but has been lodged as a separate request.

Te Hika o Papauma was established as an iwi authority in August last year after an extensive nationwide ratification process.

Its traditional lands include what is commonly known as the Castlepoint Purchase Block of 1853.

The boundaries begin north of Akitio at Cape Turnagain and continue down the coast past Akitio, Owahanga and Mataikona rivers to Whareama.

They run inland along the Whareama River and then north to encompass all the Puketoi Range.

This means its sphere of influence spans both Masterton District Council and Tararua District Council as well as Greater Wellington Regional Council and Horizons Regional Council areas.

The submissions have been lodged under the name of Anita Broughton of Te Hika o Papauma and asks the council to consider its representation on an iwi governance committee, kaumatua council "and other forums where appropriate".

Te Hika o Papauma is asking for council support on a range of activities including the development of an Iwi Environmental Plan.

Prior to annual plan submissions being heard today a special meeting of Masterton District Council has been called to consider a Notice of Motion put forward by councillor Gary Caffell.

This calls on councillors to re-visit its decision to appoint two iwi representatives to its standing committees and to allow the newly elected council in October to make a decision in that regard.

Mr Caffell claims the councillors were not given sufficient time to sum up what was being asked of them and that, in any event, the issue was one for an incoming council and not one whose term would expire in a few months.