Māori Participation in Local Government
Local government provides for your community well-being. Many of the decisions councils make affect the services provided in everyday life. These services range from water flowing from your taps, running libraries in your communities, and collecting and clearing rubbish, to walking your dog at night along well-lit streets.
Councils enables democratic local decision-making and action, on behalf of your community.
Active community participation in local democracy is a key concept in the Local Government Act 2002. The more people participate in local government, the more likely councils decisions and actions will help achieve decision-making for sustainable communities now and for the future.
There are a number of ways to be involved in council decision-making processes. These include:
- Voting in local government elections.
- Being elected as a councillor or community board member.
- Making a submission to councils on local issues.
- Attending council meetings.
- Council interaction with Māori, and community and ethnic groups.
Some council decisions involve land or a body of water. When a council is making an important decision involving land or a body of water, it must take into account the relationship of Māori and their culture and traditions with their ancestral land, water, sites, wāhi tapu, valued flora and fauna, and other taonga.
If you are interested in being more involved in local government decision-making, contact your council in your region. You may wish to contact your iwi liaison officer from your council. Or you could invite your local councillor to come along to your school, marae, or community group meeting to discuss how they engage with Māori.
