Te Upoko Taiao - Natural Resources Plan Committee

Greater Wellington Regional Council launched Te Upoko Taiao - Natural Resources Plan Committee in October 2009. This committee was set up to promote the sustainable management of the region’s natural and physical resources, particularly their use, development and protection. It oversees the Council’s regulatory responsibilities in relation to resource management, including the review and development of regional plans.

The Committee comprises six elected Greater Wellington Regional councillors and six appointed members from the region's mana whenua.

The Local Government Act 2002 includes several provisions that require councils to take account of the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) by maintaining and improving opportunities for Maori to contribute to local government decision making. Most regional, city and district councils have some kind of formal mechanism for involving local iwi.

Greater Wellington Regional Council already has a Memorandum of Partnership signed by the six iwi in the region and has an active relationship with these iwi. Each iwi has a different rohe and each was invited to nominate somebody with the skills that the committee requires.

Although the Maori members will be nominated by the region’s “mana whenua” iwi, like the six elected councillor members, their role is to ensure that the new regional plan provides for the region as whole.