A four-member delegation representing the 56 tribes of Aotearoa New Zealand believes the time has come for the group to become an official member of the Polynesian Leaders Group (PLG).

Selwyn Parata (Ngati Porou), Kingitanga representative Tukuroirangi Morgan, Ngai Tahu chairman Mark Solomon, and Te Arawa Holdings CEO Roger Pikia presented their case for inclusion at last week’s meeting.

It will be up to the eight Polynesian member countries – Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, Niue, American Samoa, French Polynesia and Tokelau – to reach a decision on whether their application will be accepted.

But the quartet, representing the 56 various tribes across New Zealand as part of a group known as the Iwi Chairs Forum, is adamant it is ready to step up and become a member of the exclusive group.

It has shown a big sign of progression from when they held their inaugural Iwi Leaders Forum meeting in 2005, which attracted 30 tribes from throughout the country to Takahanga Marae in Kaikoura.

The meetings between tribes now happen four times a year and allow the forum to discuss Maori involvement in cultural, environmental, economic, social and political development.

The Aotearoa Maori representatives presented on a wide range of issues, including the Maori economy and how tribes are allocated the money, the cultural aspect of the group, an overview of the issues facing Maori at home as well as an analysis on their role in agriculture, electricity generation and the various businesses Maori own.

Talks with Samoa Prime Minister Tuilaepa Malielegaoi prior to the forum around their inclusion in the PLG had provided the New Zealand quartet with hope as they awaited their fate. They will not be able to know if they will be included in the group until Friday afternoon.

”This is an extraordinary opportunity to actually partner together where we’ve never had the opportunity before,“ Morgan said.

”We’re bound by our whakapapa. We all have common interests, but our own individual environmental concerns and you can come here and talk to people that are related to you.“

While their main intention on joining the eight-member consortium was purely on building relationships with the Pacific nations, Solomon said the group would also have positive effects on the Polynesian population in New Zealand.

”Fifteen percent are Maori and nine percent Pacific. We should be working together and supporting each other,“ Solomon said.

So far the group have had fruitful talks with French Polynesia president Oscar Temaru and are lining up a meeting with Papua New Guinea prime minister Peter O’Neill to reaffirm ties and build on relationships.

”We’ve got common concerns around petroleum exploration so we’ve just got to sit at the table and just talk,“ Morgan said.

A trade delegation to Rapa Nui as well as a formal invitation to Tahiti from Temaru showed the fruits that had been reaped since their arrival in Rarotonga.

”I think our people are a growing economic power – we’re an undeniable economic power,“ the Kingitanga representative said.

”By joining it goes a long way. I don’t think we would have had the inclination before this time.

”We’re ready to take our place and see if we can contribute significantly.“

Pikia and Parata have since departed for New Zealand, with Morgan and Solomon set to follow suit at 2.55am on Friday.