Some agreements drawn up between Maori and local authorities were lost in the process of setting up the Auckland Council, an audit has revealed.
A report commissioned by the Independent Maori Statutory Board says the council's obligations to Maori under the Treaty of Waitangi need to be urgently addressed.
Among its many findings, it says documents have been lost during the amalgamation of eight councils.
In some cases, there are no records of agreements existing, because some Mana Whenua organisations also can not find their copies.
Maori Statutory Board chair David Taipari says he hopes important work has not gone to waste, but wonders if those agreements are out there somehwere, but no one has been able to find them.
Mr Taipari says he would like to think any agreements which are entered into from today are kept in a very safe place, as it is important to remind parties what they have agreed to.
