Significance and Engagement Policy

Waikato Regional Council’s Significance and Engagement Policy was adopted in 2014, then reviewed in 2017 and again in 2020 to meet our legislative requirements under the Local Government Act 2002 (the LGA). The policy:

• enables the council and our communities to understand the significance council places on certain issues, proposals, assets, decisions and activities
• identifies how and when communities can expect to be engaged or specifically consulted on these items.

Where Joint Management Agreements, Memorandum of Understanding or any other similar high-level agreements exist, these will be considered as a starting point when engaging with Māori. For mana whenua groups without a formal agreement a separate engagement plan will be developed as appropriate.

A Māori Engagement Framework, developed in 2017, initially formed Schedule 3 of the Significance and Engagement Policy. This framework is now a standalone document which provides guidance on best practice engagement to those looking to engage with Māori.