Coalition supports Māori voices
‘‘This has brought out the worst in some people. We have been ridiculed by some. But would I do it again? Definitely.’’
Grant Smith, Palmerston North mayor
Coalition forces have gathered to support the Palmerston North City Council and Manawatū District Council’s decisions to create Māori wards under the banner of Together: Kia Kotahi Mai.
Palmerston North mayor Grant Smith launched the group’s campaign at All Saints Church Community Centre yesterday evening at a meeting open only to those who signed their support for the group’s goals.
There were 64 who signed the undertaking to support ‘‘mayors and councillors in their brave and righteous stand’’, and only four people were turned away for refusing.
Smith said he was disappointed petitioners had succeeded in demanding a poll that could stop the creation of Māori wards.
He said he had ‘‘grown another skin’’ in the past couple of weeks given criticism of his support.
‘‘This has brought out the worst in some people. We have been ridiculed by some. But would I do it again? Definitely.’’
Smith said co-governing with Māori was the way things were done these days in government departments, in managing the Manawatū River and city reserves, and it should be how the council governed the city as well.
Kia Kotahi Mai committee member Teanau Tuiono said Māori representation on councils really mattered and he applauded the councils for their efforts to honour the Treaty of Waitangi.
‘‘It is an opportunity for our Māori community and wider community to ground themselves in the history of the place where we live.’’
He said opponents of the creation of Māori wards were hanging on to practices of 150 to 175 years ago.
‘‘If you keep doing the same thing for that long, and it does not work, maybe it is time to change.’’
Meeting leader and city councillor Aleisha Rutherford said the group aimed to encourage wellinformed debate in the lead-up to the May 19 poll.
The name Together: Kia Kotahi Mai had been chosen to encourage both kotahitanga (unity) and diversity, and was a positive counter to the politics of division, she said.
Rutherford said a vote for Māori wards would mean a great deal for a part of the community, without taking anything away from the rest.
‘‘We will still have 16 people on the council, a mayor and 15 councillors, it’s just that one or two of them will be from a Māori ward.’’
She said concerns that having Māori wards would add costs were ill-founded.
‘‘Our two councils showed leadership, and stepped up to make the right decision, not the popular decision.’’
Rutherford said Kia Kotahi Mai would be relying on donations from supporters for its campaign, which was likely to include marketing and information leaflets.
‘‘We have had a flurry of donations since the referendum was declared, but we don’t have wealthy, national backers.’’