A member of Auckland's Independent Maori Statutory Board, is questioning the Auckland Council's commitment to having a partnership with Maori.
John Tamihere represents the board on the Auckland Council's Strategy and Finance Committee, which held its monthly meeting on Thursday.
He says the amount of money the council has set aside for Maori interests in its budget for 2012-2013, is unacceptable.
Mr Tamihere says only 0.8% of the council's budget will directly benefit Maori.
He says he wanted to present a submission to Thursday's committee meeting, on what he considers to be the low level of spending proposed for Maori interests.
But Mr Tamihere says the chairperson refused to give him speaking time, and told him the Maori Statutory Board can make a submission, as part of the public consultation process on the council's long term plan.
