Critical Tiriti Analysis of He Mata Whāriki, He Matawhānui: Review into the Future of Local Government in Aotearoa

Hapū are interested in local government due to their decision-making influence over the cultural, social, economic and environmental wellbeing of a district that can enable or restrict tino rangatiratanga. In Aotearoa, the debate about Indigenous engagement in local government is shaped by Te Tiriti o Waitangi responsibilities to protect and promote the interests of hapū. There is currently a major review of local government underway, which is providing a once-ina-generation opportunity to have a courageous conversation about the future of this sector. This paper presents a Critical Tiriti Analysis (CTA) examining to what extent He mata whāriki, he matawhānui – the local government draft review report – has engaged with te Tiriti. It includes a postscript on the final report released while this paper was under review. In the draft report we found variable engagement. It was strongest regarding relationships and governance and weaker in relation to tino rangatiratanga, ōritetanga (equitable citizenship) and wairuatanga (spiritual domain). This review challenges local and regional government to lift their game in relation to their te Tiriti responsibilities and concludes that local Māori solutions, mātauranga Māori knowledge and leadership are required at all levels of local and regional government. National states of emergency and devastating disasters in the context of Cyclone Gabrielle will no longer wait for the bureaucracy of the local government.