The Independent Māori Statutory Board maintains its support for the Three Waters reform.
7 November 2021
Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta released further information last week about mandating the Three Waters reform, resulting in backlash from Local Government.
However, the Independent Māori Statutory Board remains committed to supporting reform that provides better water services for Aucklanders, including improving the quality of drinking water and the infrastructure for stormwater and wastewater.
"This is a key element that we continue to focus on as a Board", says Independent Māori Statutory Board Chairman, David Taipari. "We have been advocating for a better quality of water in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) since our inception in 2010, and now we have the chance to see a once in a generation chance to improve the three water services".
The Independent Māori Statutory Board also met with Minister Mahuta this week to further understand the governance structures that include mana whenua working with the council to appoint a regional representative group as part of the proposal.
"We will continue to have open, transparent kōrero with the Minister on this significant kaupapa and the importance of direct engagement with Māori in Tāmaki Makaurau, and we look forward to the day when rural areas and marae are provided with improved water quality services as those living in the cities," says Mr Taipari.
Following the reform announcement by Minister Mahuta, there has been significant opposition, with some people calling this reform 'an asset grab'.
"I do find the 'asset grab' comment from a range of people across the community insulting, given our tūpuna had their assets confiscated over 180 years ago, and for some iwi, they are still to this day, battling for the return of their assets. So to hear that language used annoys me, as this is a battle Māori have waged since their land was unfairly confiscated," says Mr Taipari.
Independent Māori Statutory Board calls on Māori to play their part in reaching a 90 per cent vaccination rate.
14 October 2021
The Independent Māori Statutory Board is calling on Māori in Auckland to pull out all stops to get vaccinated as part of a national drive to get 90 per cent of New Zealanders vaccinated.
Independent Māori Statutory Board Chairman David Taipari said it was essential that Māori take up the opportunity with a raft of vaccination options available as increasing vaccination rates is the pathway to easing restrictions in Auckland.
“We know that the people contracting Covid-19 and those that end up being hospitalised with it are overwhelmingly people who have not yet had the vaccine. We want Māori vaccinated to stop them from getting infected and being seriously ill.
“The more individual Māori who are protected by vaccination, the more their whānau will be protected. Those aged under 12 currently cannot be vaccinated, so Māori aged 12 and over need to do so to protect our mokopuna.”
“I applaud the work being done by Māori Health providers in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) who have led the way in prioritising Māori vaccinations. Māori can visit a marae or a bus to get their shots from those who know how to manaaki (care) our people.”
The Independent Māori Statutory Board provides direction and guidance to the Auckland Council on issues affecting Māori. Mr Taipari wanted Māori to play their part in getting Auckland out of Alert Level 3 by also attending a Super Saturday vaccination drive to help boost vaccination rates.
“We are working with Auckland Council to support Māori wellbeing in Tāmaki Makaurau and build resilience. We will not concede defeat to Covid-19. Kia kaha tātou e te iwi!”
We are all in this together
7 April 2020
As Aotearoa New Zealand adjusts to the COVID-19 lock down the Independent Māori Statutory Board supports the advice of the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon Jacinda Ardern, that “we are all in this together.”
Make no mistake however, about how lock down affects us individually and collectively and especially for many Māori who were struggling before COVID-19.
Tāmaki Makaurau has more Māori than any other urban area in New Zealand combined. The daily lives for many of our whānau in sprawling suburbs like Manurewa, Henderson-Massey, Papakura, Ōtara, Papatoetoe, Māngere and Ōtāhuhu is immensely challenging. The Board is deeply concerned for the wellbeing of our people when COVID-19 forces many of us into situations where there are fewer options and restricted access to life’s necessities.
There are many vulnerable whānau with little resilience to COVID-19. Māori living below the poverty line, living rough, living without work and without hope. For many Māori who do have a roof over their head, there are still too many living in cramped, cold, damp, sub-standard housing. They are relentlessly compromised both physically and mentally, from marginalised whanau, where comfort, security, health and happiness are not what they enjoy. The notion of being “all in this together” has more than a hollow ring to it.
Our Board considers that for Auckland Council to be the most effective with utilising its resources, it is vital to take a strategic and targeted response to COVID 19 and have robust plans for the recovery phase when it comes. Specific targets discussed with Māori leaders, with measurements and indicators, will determine the right actions to take.
Council needs proactive and practical solutions for Māori. We are greatly concerned that the current approach is far too general and simply replicates what central government and many iwi organisations are already communicating.
The Board is advocating to council for alternative support at this time especially when free WiFi and other facilities, including parks and recreation facilities, important for wellbeing, are no longer available.
We urgently requested that funding be provided to Mana Whenua and Mataawaka entities and that those Marae and the nearby hau kainga on water tank supply be provided this free of charge. Watercare has agreed to the latter.
The Board considers that special provision must be made for Tangihanga in this rohe/region. We have requested that council provide free plots and burials in council-owned cemetaries for those whānau who have not been able to take their beloved member back to their tribal home that is outside the Tāmaki Makaurau rohe.
The Board has also requested that there be an increase to the support Auckland Council is providing to coordinate and promote food banks in highly populated Māori suburbs. Communications need to be tailored to a Māori-specific audience rather than general updates.
These are all actions the Board considers can be achieved for Māori immediately. These are some of the simplest ways to connect whanau with resources and facilities without the hoop-jumping and hassle that many are presently experiencing as the grip of lock down tightens.
In the face of COVID-19, for Māori to genuinely feel that we are as the Prime Minister says, “all in this together”, we say, “He waka eke noa”, we rise together, fall together, work together, keep going together.
David Taipari
Chairman
Independent Māori Statutory Board
20 March 2020
The potentially severe impact the Covid 19 virus may have on Māori in Tāmaki Makaurau is of great concern to the Board.
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20 February 2020
The Independent Māori Statutory Board has made a submission to the government panel reviewing the resource management system.
Based on its Auckland experience it has advocated for a strengthened Treaty approach, with Māori being part of decision-making on spatial planning to transform the resource management system.
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1 November 2019
At the inaugural meeting of the new three-year term on Friday 1 November, the Independent Māori Statutory Board confirmed the reappointment of Mr David Taipari as Board Chairman and the appointment of Hon. Tau Henare as Deputy Chairman.
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14 October 2019
Board Chairman, David Taipari, takes stock of the last three years and reflects on pushing Māori interests to the forefront at Auckland Council where the future direction of New Zealand’s largest and most prosperous region, and home to Aotearoa’s largest and growing urban Māori youth population, is determined.
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12 June 2019
The Independent Māori Statutory Board voted to declare a Climate Emergency for Tāmaki Makaurau at yesterday’s Environment and Community Committee.
Chair David Taipari says the urgent need to address climate change for the benefit of current and future generations aligns strongly with Māori values relating to environmental and inter-generational wellbeing.
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27 March 2019
In early March the Board met with Housing and Urban Development Minister, Phil Twyford, and newly appointed Associate Minister, Nanaia Mahuta, to discuss endorsement of the Kāinga Strategic Action Plan (the Plan) and the opportunities it presents.
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23 May 2018
Online voting has potential to increase young Māori political participation - Independent Māori Statutory Board
The Independent Māori Statutory Board (IMSB) says trialling online voting for local elections in Tāmaki Makaurau would potentially increase Rangatahi, or Māori youth, participation in local body elections.
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24 April 2018
The Auckland Māori Housing Summit has welcomed the government’s recognition of the impact of Auckland’s housing crisis and government housing policy and decisions on Māori in Auckland. The Summit also heard a clear commitment to improving those increasingly drastic housing outcomes.
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16 April 2018
The Auckland Māori Housing Summit is an opportunity for Māori in Tāmaki Makaurau to help shape the future of housing development in Auckland, and to address housing issues in the region with key government Ministers, the Chairman of the Independent Māori Statutory Board, David Taipari says.
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28 June 2017
Nothing speaks “New Zealand Inc.” more strongly than our Māori identity. The return of the America’s Cup to Tāmaki Makaurau is a real opportunity for the region to lift the promotion of its Māori identity. The Challenge is brimming with opportunity for Auckland Council and its Council Controlled Organisations: ATEED, Panuku, and Auckland Transport, to work with Mana Whenua from day one to create an experience that is not only unique, but delivers direct economic benefits to all Aucklanders.
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5 July 2017
Increasing housing supply is a necessity as everyone knows but Auckland does not need more large and unaffordable houses, supplied by the open market in response to unconstrained stimulus. This, unfortunately, is what the task force recommends in abundance. What’s desperately needed are houses people can afford to buy, priced within reach of ordinary working families.
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15 July 2017
Is it time for the advocates for affordable housing in Tāmaki Makaurau to finally celebrate? At first glance, the ten-and-a-half thousand new homes for Whenuapai and Redhills promised this week by Mayor Goff looks like a cause for optimism. But does simply opening up more land and making the infrastructure conditions right for development make housing affordable? Experience tells us that increased housing supply does not equate to more affordable houses being built.
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27 November 2017
An independent assessment of Auckland Council’s activities to improve Māori economic, social, cultural and environmental development in Tāmaki Makaurau highlights ongoing and significant missed opportunities, not only for Auckland Māori, but for the region as a whole.
The Board-commissioned assessment by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) finds that over half of the issues raised in a 2014 assessment report remained unresolved. Underspending on budgets and over-reporting on some expenditure remains a feature; and matters relating to setting outcome measures and the variable quality of project management remain unresolved, with high impact on the effectiveness of projects.
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18 December 2017
The Independent Maori Statutory Board welcomes Shane Ellison, Ngāi Tahu and Te Āti Awa, as he takes up his new role as Chief Executive of Auckland Transport this week. His arrival is timely. As new CEO, Mr Ellison is well-placed to bring a fresh approach to the part Auckland Transport can play in acting effectively in the interest of Māori in Tāmaki Makaurau and to realise the benefits that advancing the interests of Māori can bring to the region as a whole.
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