Cr Forbes said she was "delighted" with staff’s work on the draft community engagement policy "He Mahi Rau Rika", approved in a 10-2 vote this week.
What she was not pleased about was a line of questioning, and commentary, around the development of two "tool kits" for staff engagement with the community.
The draft policy further referred to a "Maori world view" as different from a "Western world view", which drew questions at Wednesday’s council meeting.
"We are obligated and privileged — and really lucky — to have to consider the different ways that our partner looks at the world," Cr Forbes said.
"And that is a huge advantage that we have.
"It just amazes me that every paper that comes to this table that considers our responsibilities under Te Tiriti we see this sore fester.
"And I’m a little bit sick of it, which is why I haven’t commented too much on this."
At the end of the day, the council’s relationship with the community was of the utmost importance, Cr McCall said.
"We need to do what we can to nurture and feed that relationship.
"Also, it’s of utmost importance that we maintain our integrity and commitment to our partnership with mana whenua.
"And that they’re held at that partnership level."
On the other hand, Cr Michael Laws said a "radical agenda" had redefined the council’s relationship with Maori when there was no mandate to do so.
He took issue with the council’s "aspirations to go beyond statutory regulations to ensure meaningful engagement with mana whenua and the partnership principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi", outlined in the staff report presented to councillors.
"The Otago Regional Council — as I keep telling you — is not a signatory to the Treaty of Waitangi, never has been and has no statutory responsibilities under the Treaty of Waitangi, or Te Tiriti o Waitangi, whatever you’d like to call it.
"The relationship is between the Crown and the Maori people and it is handled at a central government level."
He called the council’s approach to mana whenua "impossibly woke".
"The real problem here is that ordinary Otago people, Maori and non-Maori, according to the [community survey] we undertook don’t trust or like the Otago Regional Council, because when they do try and have some say they feel they are ignored or sidelined."
That was the "overwhelming and primary" finding of the community survey, he said.
Cr Gary Kelliher said the policy was "too divisive and woke".
Chairwoman Cr Gretchen Robertson said the policy was "a really good piece of work"
and embodied the approach the council had developed over time.
"We care about ‘partnership’ at this council and it’s right there."
The staff report said there were opportunities to consider developing additional engagement initiatives, including increasing engagement with young people, increased engagement with community boards, increased visibility at events and building relationships with Māori and Pacific providers.
