Working in partnership
Consultation and partnership with our Māori community, including iwi authorities, is an important part of resource management in Tai Tokerau (Northland).
We aim to better understand the preferences of Māori on environmental issues, and where appropriate, incorporate these into our resource management planning.
It is vital to work with Northland's iwi when it comes to writing resource management plans, deciding on applications for resource consents, and monitoring the environment.
Council committee representation
The Council has an iwi representative on each of the following committees:
- Environmental Management Committee
- Regional Transport Committee
There are also iwi representatives appointed to various working parties for planning documents, as and when required.
Liaison on iwi issues
An open-door policy is maintained with iwi, whereby the Council will respond to requests from iwi, hapū and other groups representing Māori to meet and work through specific issues as they arise. In recent times, hapu groups have tended to opt for a more direct relationship with the Council when it comes to issues of particular concern to them, as opposed to their iwi as a whole.
Getting involved in the consent process
Iwi and local Māori groups are also involved in the resource consent process by being sent copies of applications that are publicly notified, which is required by law. It is also our policy to encourage all applicants to consult with iwi when preparing applications for consent, and to involve iwi who have concerns, in discussing their issues with the applicants informally or at pre-hearing meetings.
Non-notified applications are also sent to iwi and local Māori groups for their information and to give them an opportunity to identify issues of concern before a decision to grant consent is reached. There is no statutory requirement for this process but it is considered consistent with recognising and providing for the relationship of Māori to natural and physical resources.