Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements being scrapped under RMA reform is based on a misunderstanding of what they actually do, Tairāwhiti Whenua Charitable Trust chief executive Hilton Collier says.

“They are not there to make the decision, but it makes it clear who is at the table having that discussion,” he says.

He says the final decision always rests with local authorities.

“I think there has been some mischief-making in this space; it is simply, in equivalent terms, a memorandum of understanding.”

He says they will work out how to play and operate within the new rules.

“At the end of the day, we are not going anywhere.”

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