1 Feb 2019

Iwi Chairs Forum: PM Jacinda Ardern 'happy to be guided'

8:15 am on 1 February 2019

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will open the floor to whatever iwi leaders want to discuss at Waitangi this afternoon, at the conclusion of the Iwi Chairs Forum, she says.

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New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Photo: RNZ

Māori leaders are to deliver a presentation to Ms Ardern and other government MPs on the second and final day of the Iwi Chairs Forum, gathered in Waitangi.

Ms Ardern will then respond, and says she is keeping the agenda open.

"They're as interested in talking about the issues that are affecting Māori as anything else - so employment, regional growth, housing - but I'm happy to be guided by the chair and what iwi leaders want to talk about."

Topics for debate at this year's forum include Crown-Māori relations, freshwater, Whānau Ora and climate change.

This Iwi Chairs Forum is the first of the year, hosting more than 160 iwi chairs and executives for kōrero on the things affecting Māori ahead of next week's commemorations of the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Iwi Chairs Forum pōwhiri at Waitangi.

A pōwhiri at the Iwi Chairs Forum. Photo: RNZ/Leigh Marama

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