Councillor accused of neo-colonialism
Ka¯ piti’s mayor has accused fellow local politicians of ‘‘neocolonialism’’ for their criticism of a $4 million tourist development.
K Gurunathan says councillor Bernie Randall and community board chairman Guy Burns are ignoring the cultural significance and history of MacLean Park, the planned site for a visitor centre.
Randall and Burns say the mayor’s ‘‘attack’’ is ‘‘almost an accusation of racism’’, and their criticism is only about the money involved for the project.
‘‘We completely refute any allegations of racism or neocolonialism. More than likely, the mayor is using this misinterpretation as a cultural misappropriation for his own political objectives.’’
The stoush has come after the Ka¯piti Coast District Council announced it would seek 50 per cent funding from the Provincial Growth Fund for the longplanned Ka¯piti Island Gateway
Project, estimated to cost $4.06m. Last year the Government fund invested $635,000 in a visitors’ lodge on the island.
Plans for the centre included biosecurity facilities for Ka¯ piti Island, a centre to promote tourism activities. The total economic impact in year one was estimated to be $5.91m.
Gurunathan said local iwi were involved in the project’s plans and design which commemorated sacred ancestral connections to the island and Te Uruhi Pa which once covered Paraparaumu Beach.
Burns and Randall had publicly dismissed the ‘‘legitimate iwi aspirations as a ‘‘memorial to someone’s foolishness’’, he said.
‘‘The elected members’ rude dismissal of the right of tangata whenua to reclaim their living memories of ancestral connections to the land and island is deplorable.
‘‘In their public statements criticising the council project, they said Maclean Park should only be a gateway ‘to the cherished memories of family, of playgrounds, BBQs, picnics and sandcastles’.’’ Gurunathan recently made a public appeal for the Wellington City Council to ‘‘pull finger’’ following ongoing spats but said his current disagreement with Randall was different. ‘‘He’s only one councillor.’’ Yesterday, Randall and Burns said in a statement there was nothing neo-colonial about disagreeing with the council and insinuations of racism were being used to shut down valid debate about a major decision. ‘‘Especially one with little public consultation and that will require $2m of immediate ratepayers funding, plus half a million dollars ongoing yearly expenditure.’’
The centre had little value for locals and, if it was abandoned, the council could keep its rates rise below 1 per cent. ‘‘Come on Mr Mayor, accusing us of neo-colonialism is outright desperation and a poor attempt to prop up a potential white elephant,’’ the statement said.