Ma¯ori seats favoured by councillors
‘‘We are happy that they have voted in favour, and hope they get on and implement it.’’
Rangita¯ ne spokeswoman Danielle Harris
Palmerston North City councillors have taken up mayor Grant Smith’s challenge to be ‘‘brave enough’’ to support a move to guarantee Ma¯ ori seats at the council table.
The city council yesterday voted 11-4 in favour of having one or two Ma¯ori wards at the next local government elections in 2019.
The decision was made despite two thirds of the submissions it received opposing the move.
Smith said the change would enable the council to uphold its Treaty of Waitangi obligations, even though it might be divisive.
The move has been welcomed by Rangita¯ne Settlement Trust chairwoman Danielle Harris, who said it was positive for the council and community.
‘‘We are happy that they have voted in favour, and hope they get on and implement it.’’
But one of the submitters who opposed having separate Ma¯ori representation, Don Esslemont, said it was ‘‘a pious vote for political correctness’’.
He said after listening to and observing councillors, he was not surprised by the vote.
Esslemont said having different arrangements for people based on race was ‘‘immoral and disgraceful’’. ‘‘It’s politically incorrect to say, but if Ma¯ ori want to be represented, they should get organised and mount a campaign.’’
The proposal to set up Ma¯ori wards can be challenged if 5 per cent of voters demand a poll.
Esslemont said he was sure there were people in the community who would try to gather signatures.
‘‘I believe a petition will be organised and I’m in favour of that.’’
Most of the councillors spoke strongly in support of the Ma¯ ori ward proposal.
Aleisha Rutherford said it was an opportunity to show real leadership and to do the right thing, rather than what was most popular with submitters.
Deputy mayor Tangi Utikere, who has Pasifika rather than Ma¯ ori heritage, said it had been 19 years since the council last had a Ma¯ ori representative.
‘‘We have made decisions where Ma¯ori have not had an opportunity to participate.’’
He listed the city vision, issues with wastewater treatment, development of reserves and upgrades to The Square as topics where Ma¯ ori had not been part of the formal process.
Longest-serving councillor Jim Jefferies was one of those who supported the change, having previously voted against it and knowing his support might not be popular with some of the people he represented.
He said he had learnt more about Ma¯ ori views and values and understood more about the importance of New Zealand as a bicultural nation.
Those who voted against were Karen Naylor, Leonie Hapeta, Adrian Broad and Bruno Petrenas.
Naylor said it was ‘‘a very challenging issue’’ and her proposal to consider other ways to improve Ma¯ ori engagement with the council was supported as well as, rather than instead of, the Ma¯ori ward option.
Legal counsel John Annabell said the council’s decision adopted the principle of having one or two Ma¯ ori wards. The details of how the ward or wards would work would be fleshed out in a fuller representation review in 2018.