Yesterday Dr Carter and Edward Ellison were confirmed as iwi appointees on the council’s policy committee for this council term.
Dr Carter replaces Tahu Potiki, who died last year, in the role.
The representatives sit with regional councillors on the committee and have voting rights to ensure iwi input on its policy decisions.
She a member of Ngai Tahu runaka Kati Huirapa through which she was involved its environmental committee, tackling deemed permits and resources consents.
Dr Carter is a senior lecturer at Te Tumu, the University of Otago’s school of Maori, Pacific and indigenous studies.
She had an interest in those areas, so when approached by the runaka, she accepted.
‘‘I did it for my sons.’’
She understood the relationship between iwi and the regional council had been ‘‘mixed’’ in the past.
‘‘There’s been a mixed focus on what the iwi position is and how that should be incorporated into planning.
‘‘So hopefully now we’ve got a very good chair who will be able to drive some of our aspirations.’’
When the iwi representative roles where created in May last year they were met by controversy among some councillors who rejected the equal footing given to the unelected members.
Dr Carter said there was always controversy with increased iwi consultation.
‘‘We’re the Treaty partners with the ORC and we have a role to play within Otago. I think it was a huge step forward to have the roles as permanent positions put in place.’’
