Maori leaders welcome change in policy functions

Press, 29 June 1987, Page 16

Maori leaders welcome change in policy functions

PA Wellington The Government’s plan to shift major economic' and social policy functions from the Department of Maori Affairs to the Maori people was welcomed by Maori leaders.

A Maori topics spokesman, Professor Whatarangi Winiata, of Victoria University, said the move was perhaps the most significant step in the partnership between Maori and European since the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840.

The move was also welcomed by the president of the Maori Council, Sir Graham Latimer, and a former Secretary for Maori Affairs, Mr Kara Puketapu. Both Mr Puketapu and Professor Winiata sounded warnings, however, about implementa-

tion of the changes, aria Sir Graham emphasised that it would have to happen quickly.

The Prime Minister, Mr Lange, and the Minister of Maori Affairs, Mr Wetere, announced that there would be progressive transfer of responsibilities for the management of Government programmes to the tribes.

Functions and responsibilities that may be transferred were said to be potentially wide-ranging and would be decided by a newly appointed committee after consultation and agreement with each tribal group. Mr Puketapu spoke publicly about the need for change in this area for the first time since his appointment earlier this year by Mr Lange to a three-person task force to

'examine Maori social and economic development needs.

He said he thought the development was timely and would be well received by Maori community leaders as something they had wanted for some time.

Rather than being seen as a devolution of power and responsibilities, however, it should be seen as empowering the Maori people, he said. Mr Puketapu said he believed Maori tribal groups had the capability to handle the new task but he emphasised that the way the system was implemented would be critical to its success.

“By and large New Zealand is quite inexperienced in the type of community administration that this ‘devolution’ exer- , cise is going to require,”

he said. “The biggest thing to be sure of now is just what are we talking about when we’re talking about community administration.” Accountability of tribal (iwi) groups was “a difficult situation.”

“The Government has come out with a positive, statement and I think you’ll get very good results if people are positive about this,” he said. Sir Graham saw no difficulties in this area and said all tribal groups were subject to Government au-. dit.

Professor Winiata, cultural convenor of the Maori Council, said the Department of Maori Affairs was just the first step in a process that would extend to the Departments of Social Welfare, Labour and Justice.