Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Council wants iwi to sign property protocol agreement

Updated at 8:45 pm on 28 July 2012

South Taranaki mayor Ross Dunlop says he would like the four local iwi in the rohe to sign off a property protocol agreement, so both the council and iwi can move forward.

During an iwi liaison meeting this week Ngati Ruanui accused the council of not consulting the four local iwi when it offered the Kohi community pool and hall near Waverley to residents who already manage it.

But Mr Dunlop says the council was trying to keep to the property protocol agreement with the four iwi authorities, which they have still not officially signed.

Te Kahui o Rauru chairperson Darryl Ratana says the iwi need to revisit that agreement, but says the council also needs to stick to its promise and include iwi at the decision-making table.

He says his board will be considering that agreement.

Mr Ratana says substantial amounts of land are still held by the South Taranaki District Council, including the hundreds of hectares that have never been offered back in settlement of their land claims.

Mr Dunlop says there are no legal obligations for the iwi to sign the protocol agreement, but there is a moral obligation.

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