Office of the Mayor of Auckland/Supplied
Auckland mayor Wayne Brown with Tāmaki Makaurau iwi representatives in 2022.
Auckland Council is defending a proposal that would see its only executive role dedicated to Māori outcomes demoted, saying the move would not only save money, but allow better decision and policy making.
Stuff understands the proposal would see the Ngā Mātārae position, dedicated to Māori outcomes in Tāmaki Makaurau, moved into the lower-level governance directorate.
The move would also see the executive role of tumuaki huanga Māori (director of Māori outcomes) disestablished, with the Ngā Matarae team instead reporting to a new general manager of Māori outcomes.
However, council staffers are concerned at the move’s impact on Te Tiriti o Waitangi partnership at the organisation.
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Stuff has agreed not to name the staffers to protect their jobs.
“The demotion of Ngā Mātārae from directorate to department level is concerning as it marks a step away from a genuine attempt at Te Tiriti partnership, and the disestablishment of the tumuaki huanga Māori position takes the Māori voice away from the executive leadership team’s table,” one said.
”Supposedly these proposed changes are cost-driven, and yet Ngā Mātārae is the only directorate facing demotion.”
Stuff understands Māori Council staff support network Whānau Manawa, which represents 650 Māori staff across council, sent a submission criticising the proposal.
It said keeping the tumuaki huanga Māori role and Ngā Matarae on the executive was essential for the council to meet Te Tiriti obligations.
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Auckland mayor Wayne Brown on building relationships around the council table.
An Auckland Council spokesperson said the proposal was part of a wider programme of change across the organisation.
“The proposal released for consultation envisages that Ngā Mātārae is led by general manager Māori partnerships and outcomes with a focus on managing Auckland Council Group collective engagements with Tāmaki Makaurau iwi and using insights to inform policy development and decision-making.”
The council would consider feedback and submissions from staff and unions before making a decision, the spokesperson said.
“The focus of this change is not just financial, we are also looking at how we better position Auckland Council to deliver effective and efficient services.”
There are also staff changes afoot at the council-controlled organisation Auckland Transport, which is preparing to restructure and cut jobs by July as it faces slashed funding in the council’s next budget.
More than 2000 staff at the council agency were told the two-week consultation process would begin on April 18.
Outgoing interim chief executive Mark Lambert broke the news in a message on his last day in the role.
About 150 jobs will be lost from the organisation, which has been instructed to cut $25 million from its budget by July 1.
