Nominations open for the Pou Herenga to support Climate Change Commission

We're calling for nominations to join the Pou Herenga and support our board to provide advice that embeds the perspectives of tangata whenua.

Homepage News Nominations open for the Pou Herenga to support Climate Change Commission

 First published 8 December 2022.

Nominations for the Pou Herenga have now closed.


The transition to a low-emissions society in Aotearoa needs to be equitable for tangata whenua and all New Zealanders. To achieve this, the impacts of the transition on Iwi/Māori should be understood from an ao Māori view. 

To help He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission do this, we are calling for nominations to join the Pou Herenga, an internal advisory body which will support the Commission’s Board by providing ao Māori expertise and insights on the Iwi/Māori specific aspects of the Commission’s work programme. The Pou Herenga will support the Commission to meet its legislative obligations in a tikanga consistent manner and tautoko the Commission’s on-going mahi under the Climate Change Response Act to engage with Iwi/Māori. 

“To be at the point where we are calling for founding members of the Pou Herenga is an exciting milestone for us as a Commission,” says He Pou a Rangi Deputy Chair and Interim Pou Herenga Chair Lisa Tumahai.  

“I look forward to seeing the Pou Herenga come together and support the Board in understanding what climate change means for Iwi/Māori.” 

“We have been running an Interim Pou Herenga over the past year, and this has helped to build the foundations to establish the Pou Herenga.”  

“We hope that the nominations process will attract candidates with varied backgrounds, a passion for the kaupapa of the Commission and a desire to help us on our journey by weaving ao Māori into the fabric of our work,” says Lisa.  

The Pou Herenga will support the Commission’s Board, helping the Commission meet its legislative obligations and build the Commission’s understanding and awareness of climate change from a kaupapa Māori perspective. 

 

Nomination information can be found here:

Completed application forms can be sent to Rautaki.Maori@climatecommission.govt.nz

Nominations close on 28 February 2023.