Co-governance is not new
Aotearoa has plenty of examples of co-governance working well, says Race Relations Commissioner
Co-governance doesn’t need to be the terrifying word it has been made out to be. I have been thinking about the concept a lot lately, with debate about co-governance erupting around Parliament and media coverage triggering some public fear and confusion.
Co-governance is a way to lift up Ma¯ ori, empower tangata whenua at the decisionmaking table and give some recognition to the tino rangatiratanga authority that exists alongside ka¯ wanatanga governance. This is beneficial for everyone, not just Ma¯ ori.
It is also a necessary approach given the commitments we have signalled in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the long-standing aspirations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
I have been speaking recently on the topic as people have asked my thoughts. I shared my experience and observations in Aotearoa New Zealand. I say experience and observations, because in reality cogovernance is not something new.
As a young man I used to make all my decisions independently, and for the best as far as my perspective was concerned. But once I married, my wife and I began sharing that decision-making (although to be honest I often defer to her). The process is always amicable and eventually we are both happy with the result. This was my first experience of co-governance.
In the workplace, many public sector boards now have more than 50% women membership after moves to improve diversity, a marriage of sorts with a new perspective represented at the highest level. Co-governance in effect.
In 1994, New Zealand adopted MMP as its electoral system. Its defining characteristic is constituency representation and a choice of which party people want represented most in Parliament.
With members from electorates and party lists, there has been an increase in diversity in the House, with many more communities now represented there. Coalition governments are now common, with multiple parties learning to co-govern.
At home in Te Taira¯ whiti and elsewhere, Treaty settlements have covenants of cogovernance to manage the wellbeing of lakes, rivers and mountains for the benefit of everyone and future generations.
Iwi, hapu¯ , local, regional government and central government are all working together. Arrangements around the Waikato, Waipa¯ and Whanganui rivers are great examples of co-governance models that have been beneficial for everyone.
So why the high anxiety and anger when it comes to the Three Waters cogovernance model? While some concerns may be valid, what is certainly not appropriate is the level of antiMa¯ ori rhetoric (seen in recent media commentary and social media posts), which has greeted the proposals.
Ugly allegations of separatism, Ma¯ ori elitism or a Ma¯ ori takeover have emerged.
I have seen that there is nothing to fear when bringing iwi and hapu¯ to the table.
While I was Mayor of Gisborne, the community became concerned that raw sewage was poured into the sea. We worked collaboratively with iwi and successfully resolved the matter through co-governance.
This was a big job, but the mauri of the moana, rohe and local community has been restored and the environment is better off. An entity built on a co-governance model now exists to ensure conformity of resource consents and other mitigation continues.
Gisborne District Council was the first, and is still the only, council to have a 50-50 co-governance model for the resource consent hearing committee. This model has worked well for nearly 10 years, showcasing the benefits of working together in harmony so our cultural, social, environmental and economic wellbeing can prosper for future generations.
Tuia 2000, at the start of the new millennium, and Te Ha 250, the anniversary of sea voyaging, were successful because of a co-governance model of iwi and community working together on a common goal nationally, led by Dame Jenny Shipley and Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr.
My experiences of co-governance, locally and nationally, have been positive. Our nation’s wellbeing has been enhanced with a range of communities being represented at the governance table alongside traditional Western powerbrokers.
Involving iwi and hapu¯ in decisionmaking in this way can bring benefits for everyone. I say give nothing to racism and give it a go.