ACT-aligned councillor Davina Smolders is spreading claims the Far North District Council plans to sign agreements ceding sovereignty to five iwi.

She previously challenged a recent Council decision to expand a Māori liaison committee - appointing 10 iwi members with voting rights, out of a total 16. 

Smolders says it's not co-governance, but rather outright iwi governance.

"So it's going to affect everybody...if you want to move dirt, you have to pay for cultural impact reports, it's a grift - pure and simple. It's holding development hostage." 

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ACT-aligned councillor Davina Smolders is spreading claims the Far North District Council plans to sign agreements ceding sovereignty to five iwi.
She previously challenged a recent Council decision to expand a Māori liaison committee - appointing 10 iwi members with voting rights, out of a total 16.&nbsp;
Smolders says it's not co-governance, but rather outright iwi governance.
"So it's going to affect everybody...if you want to move dirt, you have to pay for cultural impact reports, it's a grift - pure and simple. It's holding development hostage."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Davina Smolders: Far North district councillor on the council reportedly planning to sign agreements ceding sovereignty to five iwi

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/70830ef1-574d-4d28-b805-b455005fd6d3/transcript