New Zealand Legislation: Acts

15 Status of Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu

• (1) Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu shall be recognised for all purposes as the representative of Ngai Tahu Whanui.

  (2) Where any enactment requires consultation with any iwi or with any iwi authority, that consultation shall, with respect to matters affecting Ngai Tahu Whanui, be held with Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu.

  (3) Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu, in carrying out consultation under subsection (2),—

  • (a) shall seek the views of such Papatipu Runanga of Ngai Tahu Whanui and such hapu as in the opinion of Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu may have views that they wish to express in relation to the matter about which Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu is being consulted; and

  • (b) shall have regard, among other things, to any views obtained by Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu under paragraph (a); and

  • (c) shall not act or agree to act in a manner that prejudices or discriminates against, any Papatipu Runanga of Ngai Tahu or any hapu unless Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu believes on reasonable grounds that the best interests of Ngai Tahu Whanui as a whole require Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu to act in that manner.