Labour says the Government's scrapping of iwi-council partnerships will likely cause more friction.   

The newest Resource Management Act reforms aim to throw out any existing deals between councils and iwi, and prevent more from being signed.  

The Government argues these agreements have become out-of-scope – giving unelected officials a position at the decision-making table.  

Labour MP Ginny Andersen told Mike Hosking that wasn't the case, and they encouraged on-the-ground collaboration.  

She says the Government's change will lead to more division and litigation from iwi, calling it a waste of time and money. 

National’s Mark Mitchell says the replacement bills originally would’ve allowed existing agreements to carry over while stopping new ones, but since the bills were introduced, they became aware of a rapid increase in new agreements between councils and iwi. 

He told Hosking this is about stopping scope creep and restoring trust in local government.  

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