Mayoral candidates refuse to acknowledge mana whenua groups

Mayoral candidates got off to a messy start at The Hui’s mayoral debate, Newshub reports, with two refusing to acknowledge all mana whenua (the indigenous people [Māori]) of Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), despite the Supercity’s own legislation. The only candidate that firmly supported a co-governance arrangement for mana whenua was Efeso Collins. The current councillor said iwi (tribes) play a pivotal part in Tāmaki Makaurau. He said the challenge for public institutions is working out which of the 19 iwi they should be working with.