Te Arawa candidates named

Arapeta Tahana

The candidates to represent iwi to work with the Rotorua Lakes Council as part of the Te Arawa Partnership have been named.

A list of 27 nominations have been released for the 14 seats on the Te Arawa Partnership Board following a historic decision in May to have iwi representation in council.

After a year in development, more than 1800 submissions and five days of hearings, the council voted eight-five to adopt the partnership model which divided opinion across the community.

The board will consist of a cross-section of Te Arawa including koeke (elders), rangatahi (youth), Ngati Whakaue, Te Arawa hapu and iwi, Maori land trusts, incorporations and pan entities.

Under the partnership, two members of the board will be appointed and given voting rights to the council's two key committees, the Strategy, Policy & Finance and Operations & Monitoring, and will have voting rights.

However the council will be able to veto those appointments if it did not think they would be suitable.

Nominations for the board closed on September 11 and Te Arawa Partnership working party member Arapeta Tahana said they comprised a diverse group of people from across the sectors.

"There's a good sense of competition and it gives our people options on who will represent them," he said.

"We will be aiming to arrange open hui to come along and meet and hear the candidates."

Mr Tahana said it was important for Te Arawa members to vote as it was the first time there would be a collective voice for the iwi in the council and it was a way to work in a more "united fashion" in making decisions for the region.

Rotorua district councillor Merepeka Raukawa-Tait said the "open and transparent" process with several information hui about the partnership board had been helpful for prospective candidates.

"It is good to see a range of candidates from various fields of expertise and knowledge obviously with the desire to strengthen relations with the council and the city."

Te Arawa kaumatua Sir Toby Curtis said it was encouraging to see the number of people vying for the 14 places.

"Most of Te Arawa koeke, and I include myself, are very pleased, first the number that have allowed themselves to come through.

"Which means the people are prepared in their thinking and they obviously have views that they believe could take us into the future," he said.

"Some of them are very young and I think they will make a wonderful contribution so we are happy they have allowed their names to be put forward and are willing to step up."

A final list of candidates will be confirmed on Monday. Voting will close at 12pm, October 29.