Council is committed to strengthening partnerships with iwi and Māori of Te Tauihu and to providing opportunities for Māori involvement in Council decision-making processes in a meaningful way.

This includes an intention to:

• Build genuine partnerships with all eight Te Tau Ihu iwi at governance, management and operational levels
• Support iwi to participate in local government decision-making
• Increase Council’s understanding of te reo Māori me ōnā tikanga (Māori language and culture)
• Support iwi aspirations.

Actions planned for 2023/24 include:

• Work towards Te Tauihu Partnership Agreement with our eight iwi and neighbouring Tasman and Marlborough councils
• Waitangi, Matariki and Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week) celebrations
• Provide opportunities for consultative and representative collaboration with Te Tauihu iwi
• Continue to implement and review Te Parikaranga, iwi engagement tool
• Implement a five-year Toi Māori Arts workplan
• Support the implementation of Council’s Te Puāwaitanga Cultural Competency Framework.