Iwi decision 'will take time'

Merepeka Raukawa-Tait would not go into any specifics about what was discussed at the last Te Arawa hui-a-iwi at Tepapaiouru Marae on May 25. Photo / Ben Fraser

There's no way Te Arawa will be making any decisions regarding representation on the district council before a suggested deadline of early July, according to councillor Merepeka Raukawa-Tait.

The proposed Te Arawa Board structure has caused a storm of controversy since district councillor Mike McVicker released the report to the Rotorua Daily Post in early May.

The proposal, put together by Auckland-based solicitor Tama Hovell at a cost of $15,000, is to form a new Te Arawa board to replace the council's Te Arawa Standing Committee.

The board could consist of eight members - six of those appointed by a Te Arawa-mandated entity and two appointed during a Te Arawa hui-a-iwi (tribal meeting).

The report suggested the new board could be in place by July, would be separate from the council but would allow members to sit on council committees, be part of Resource Management Act decisions and establish its own sub-committees.

Mrs Raukawa-Tait would not go into any specifics about what was discussed at the last Te Arawa hui-a-iwi at Tepapaiouru Marae on May 25. But she said it was a good hui, with many of Te Arawa's elders attending.

"They took the time to come and listen and they are our wise heads," she said.

"This is a journey that started 20 years ago with the Te Arawa Standing Committee and this journey will continue."

She said those attending made it clear they wanted to discuss the proposed model further with the rest of the iwi before making any decisions.

"And that's going to take time so I don't believe Te Arawa will come to any consensus before July.

"Until they saw the model, Te Arawa never knew there was any time constraint on them either.

"They can't be driven by a timeline, but at least they have a model to look at and I don't think it will be the only one.

"Any relationship has to be workable for both sides. When I attended the hui I did say I was there as a member of Te Arawa, not as a district councillor," she said.

Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick said Te Arawa would determine the time they needed to reach a conclusion on the matter, and the council would consider their proposal once received.

"Then we will look at what steps and processes are required," she said.

Te Arawa Standing Committee members and hui-a-iwi co-chairmen Arapeta Tahana and Roku Mihinui did not respond when asked for comment.