Valuing Māori heritage and culture in Kirikiriroa

A move to improve relationships between Hamilton City Council and tangata whenua and an invitation to the community to consider the value Māori heritage and culture brings to Kirikiriroa is taking shape in our fourth largest city. Kathryn Ryan speaks with Muna Wharawhara​, Hamilton City council's first Māori relationship manager and Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate​. Muna has been working on a strategy called He Pou Manawa Ora strategy: which translates to "Pillars of Wellbeing" - the pillars being history, unity, prosperity and restoration. The document, which has been developed alongside local iwi and representative groups aims to make sure Māori have a voice at all levels of Council's decision-making. More than one thousand submissions have been received so far on the document, which is out for public consultation until Friday.