The new Invercargill primary care partnership is taking a major step forward with a new name and the official signing of a partnership agreement between Awarua Rūnaka, Hokonui Runanga and WellSouth primary health network in Waihōpai-Invercargill today
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According to the Local Electoral Act 2001, fair and effective representation at elections are prerequisites for council. The Act required local authorities to review their representation arrangements at least once every six years. The district council confirmed its reviews were conducted at the extremity of that time allowance, with the next to be held in 2024. It would soon sign a memorandum of understanding with the rūnanga to ensure iwi had a voice in council decisions, Parry said.
John Hawkins
The Southland District Council decided not to implement a Māori ward the last time it was discussed. [File photo] At the Southland District Council, mayor Gary Tong indicated it was business as usual, but said current arrangements were working effectively.
The news was well-received by Ngāi Tahu representatives in the deep south, even though it comes with a caveat. Because of government legislation, the new appointees can only be involved at committee level and are not allowed to vote at full council. Waihōpai Rūnaka representative Michael Skerrett said the seats were a good start, but hoped it would not take another century and a half for the rules to change around that. “Rightfully, we should have mana whenua places [voting on full] council. In time, I think it will [happen],” Skerrett said. “I’m not talking about taking over the place, but that’s a promise of the Treaty. There’s a reasonable expectation that tāngata whenua of the area, they’re the Treaty partner. To me, it’s just a matter of honesty, keeping your promises.”
Whaanga thanked the Invercargill City Council for the engagement around the plan. As per the written submission, Whaanga and Cook again expressed a desire to look into introducing dual place names for some reserves. “Dual place names across some of those reserves would be a wonderful conversation to have,” Whaanga said. Cr Darren Ludlow, who was chairing the meeting, was open to the idea. We certainly would be willing to take your lead over which reserves would be considered most appropriate,” Ludlow said. Other organisations – Healthy Families Invercargill, Public Health South, and the Omaui Landcare Charitable Trust – spoke at the hearing.