‘I'm running on that thing of diversity' — the changing face of the region

OTAGO is one of the least diverse regions in the country — and its local bodies reflect that.

However, there are a growing number of candidates from diverse backgrounds, and they hope to change the makeup of local body’s following next month’s elections.

When it comes to diversity, Otago is an outlier in New Zealand.

About 87% of people identify as European, compared with 70% nationally.

Only one in 12 are Maori compared with one in six nationally; one in 14 are Asian compared with one in seven nationally, and one in 37 Pasifika compared with one in 12 nationally.

In Central Otago, those discrepancies were even more exaggerated.

That was part of the reason local youth trust chairman Jayden Cromb had put his hand up for the Central Otago District Council.

‘‘I’m running on that thing of diversity because as far as I’m concerned even if we don’t all agree, if you have that diversity of thought, opinion and experience that helps us get the best result at the end of the day,’’

the 27yearold of Waikato iwi said.

‘‘Because it hasn’t really been done before it makes it quite hard for some people.’’

Mr Cromb had big policy goals and increasing affordable housing was at the top of his list.

Queenstown Lakes had long been Otago’s most diverse district.

One in 10 were of Asian descent, but they had been a voice missing from its local politics.

Matt Wong, owner of Queenstown’s iFly indoor skydiving attraction, hoped to change that, but he admitted it was not part of his thinking in standing for the Queenstown Lakes District Council.

‘‘I think one of the key elements I was thinking more of was the age and the experience and the direction I come from.

‘‘I’m a father of two young kids at primary school.

‘‘I’m a business owner. I employ staff here and I just happen to have an ethnic background to me.’’

But he had noticed the lack of diverse voices around the council table.

There were unique barriers for minorities to overcome, Mr Wong said.

‘‘A lot of the time minority cultures feel like they don’t have a voice and it takes a very brave person to stand up and say ‘I want to run for council and I speak on behalf of minority groups within the community’.’’

Hana Halalele became the Waitaki District Council’s first Pasifika councillor in 2019.

She was running for a second term in October.

But there were systemic barriers which made it difficult for many Maori and Pasifika to stand for election, Ms Halalele said.

‘‘The model that local body elections operate in makes it difficult for not only the wider community but specifically Maori and Pasifika to participate.

‘‘Like our families we need two income earners with our children. The current model and structure that it operates within makes it hard.’’

The candidates all agreed a greater emphasis on civics at school would be a start.

Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan agreed more needed to be done to get young and diverse communities engaged in local democracy.

The twoterm mayor was elected unopposed and he had concerns about turnout and engagement in local elections, especially among younger demographics.

He was pleased to see the increasing number of women on the Central Otago District Council and to see two councillors aged under 40 after the last election, and two under the age of 30 standing this time.

Ms Cadogan agreed teaching civics at school would be a start at getting people engaged as voters and participants in democracy from a young age.

‘‘I don’t think there would be a local government leader in the country that wouldn’t say we’re failing our young people and people of the future by not teaching civics at school.

‘‘It’s an absolute gaping hole in our education system that needs to be filled, and it’s a matter of significant urgency.’’ — RNZ