Environment Southland is strengthening their connection with Ngāi Tahu, with the appointment of four mana whenua representatives to council committees.  

At today’s full council meeting, Gail Thompson and Estelle Pera-Leask were welcomed to the Regional Services committee, and Stewart Bull and Anne Wakefield to the Strategy and Policy committee.

The appointments came after discussions with Te Aō Marama, a body representing Ngāi Tahu ki Murihiku (Southland) on resource management and local government issues, about opportunities for involving Māori in council governance. 

Te Ao Marama Inc. facilitated the process to provide the names of suitable candidates from Ngāi Tahu ki Murihiku and they were confirmed today.

Environment Southland say these appointments further strengthen the ongoing relationship between Ngāi Tahu ki Murihiku and the council. 

As tangata whenua, Ngai Tahi ki Murihiku have particular interests in the work of the Council, and the Council has specific statutory obligations and responsibilities in relation to Māori and their cultural and spiritual values, plus a long-standing relationship of cooperation, which can be seen in previous joint work programmes.

Environment Southland chairman Nicol Horrell described the inclusion of mana whenua positions on the committees as another milestone in the Council's relationship with iwi.

“We are pleased to welcome four representatives who will strengthen the Council’s governance and bring new perspectives and experience to the committees.”

Te Ao Marama chair Evelyn Cook said the nomination of mana whenua representatives to Environment Southland Standing Committees was an outcome of the longstanding relationship between Te Ao Marama Inc, the resource management arm of local Kāi Tahu rūnaka, and Environment Southland.

“All the people chosen have a wealth of knowledge, skills, and passion to bring to their new roles and it is our hope that both parties will see the benefits."

“We congratulate Gail Thompson, Stewart Bull, Estelle Pera-Leask, and Ann Wakefield on their appointments and we hope that they will be just the first of many who will help shape the environmental future of our region," she said.

Mana whenua representatives will be granted voting rights, remunerated, subject to accountability requirements and be bound by the Council's Code of Conduct.

They will serve a three-year cycle, which will fall separately to the Council’s 3-year rotation.