11 Dec 2013

Sharples takes advice from public on Maori Council

7:35 pm on 11 December 2013

Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples has acted on the advice given by the people, who want the Maori Council to stay the way it is.

Te Puni Kokiri - the Ministry of Maori Development received more than 2000 submissions about the Maori Community Development Act, which oversees the council and Maori Wardens.

More than 1200 of those submissions supported the council and wanted no changes to the legislation in respect to the organisation.

Deputy secretary of policy at Te Puni Kokiri, which hosted the consultation on the act, Kim Ngarimu, says the submissions gave Dr Sharples' a clear idea about what they wanted for the council.

She says it was always his intention to hear from the people about their preferences on the legislation and he's acted on that advise.

Ms Ngarimu says she's please with the level of interest on the law, and is pleased to be able to show that their views were taken on board.

The feedback from public consultation also highlighted differing views on whether an independent body should oversee the Maori Wardens or if the responsibility should remain with District Maori Councils.