Northland council chair calls scrapping of iwi agreements 'despicable' after no consultation

The environment select committee has recommended scrapping all Mana Whakahono a Rōhe iwi-council agreements as part of RMA reforms. Northland Regional Council chair Pita Tipene said he learned of the change with no prior consultation and called it "despicable" and "cowardly." The council holds three such agreements, including one signed with Ngāti Hine in 2024. Minister Chris Bishop said new, narrower iwi participation agreements would replace them.