A Mana Whakahono ā Rohe is an existing tool provided for under the Resource Management Act (RMA) designed to enable tangata whenua and local authorities to discuss and record how they will work together on resource management matters including joint decision making. The council and iwi have built on an existing Mana Whakahono to extend this into planning and decision-making under the Local Government, Reserves and the Ngāti Tūrangitukua Settlement Acts, and in the council’s co-governance structure.
The Judges said: This was a stand-out entry in this category with its focus in culture and behaviour change. This genuine desire to empower mana whenua in joint decision making across the council made this the most transformative entry in this category. We look forward to hearing more of the progress Ngāti Tūrangitukua and Taupō DistrictCouncil are able to jointly make for their community.
