Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Councillor gets Maori interests role

Updated at 5:02 pm on 2 November 2010

Councillor Alf Filapaina has been given responsibility for looking after Maori interests on Auckland Council.

The serving police officer says he will be the council's initial point of contact with the new Maori statutory board.

But he said the board is independent of the council.

Mr Filapaina says three councillors are Maori, but they don't have the mandate to speak on behalf of Maori.

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