Remuneration for iwi reps changed

Iwi representatives who sit on Waipā District Council Committees will be paid per Committee meeting for the coming term.

Four iwi representatives, known as Te Kanohi, currently sit on Council’s Strategic Planning and Policy Committee), Service Delivery Committee, Finance and Corporate Committee and Regulatory Committee and are a voice for mana whenua across the district. Representatives have voting rights on those committees.

In the last term Te Kanohi were paid between $1,500 and $4,500 per annum. For this triennium they will be paid between $450 - $550 per meeting, the latter when the meeting lasts at least four hours. Any mileage expenses will be paid on the same basis as elected members and the fee will include all preparatory work outside the meetings.

For Resource Management Act (RMA) hearings, Te Kanohi will be paid at the same rate and under the same provisions as Councillors.

The remuneration change was confirmed at today’s Finance and Corporate Committee meeting where staff said meeting fees would be a better reflection of work undertaken. The total annual budget for all four Te Kanohi for the coming terms is $16,300 per annum, less than that paid by some other councils.

Waipā’s four Te Kanohi for the coming term will be confirmed at the February 28 Council meeting.