Push for iwi seats
Ma¯ ori wards may have failed to get across the line but Hamilton councillors are looking set to back a seat at the decisionmaking table for iwi.
In October, 2017, Hamilton City Council kicked the idea of a Ma¯ ori ward to touch but staff were instructed to find another way.
Tomorrow, council will decide on a staff recommendation to approve five Ma¯ori representative positions to three highpowered committees
– one to Finance, one to Growth and Infrastructure and two to the Community and Service Committee. The final appointment will be to the Regulatory and Hearings Committee. The move looks to have the numbers to pass.
Remuneration for the new appointments is budgeted between $53,920 and $67,400 per year with a one-off technology costs of $12,000.
Those appointed will have full voting and speaking rights on the committee but Mayor Andrew King said it doesn’t extend to full council.
‘‘What we’re looking at is not having a voice for Ma¯ ori in full council but at the committee level, having input from the Ma¯ ori community and a chance for them to share their views,’’ King said.
Non-elected members can be appointed to council committees – there are two already on the Audit and Risk Committee and external members have also been appointed to the Regulatory and Hearings Committee.
If the recommendation is accepted, council chief executive Richard Briggs will complete negotiations and a formal agreement with Waikato-Tainui and Te Runanga o Kirikiriroa – a social service agency representing the views of Ma¯ ori not affiliated with Hamilton-based tribes.
Councillor Dave Macpherson said Ma¯ori have been underrepresented on council in the past due, in part, to ‘‘the attitude of most people who vote’’.
He wants positions for Ma¯ ori at the full council level – always has.
‘‘We’re years behind in ensuring we have some Ma¯ ori voices on council and this is like a Plan B,’’ Macpherson said.
Pushing through with Ma¯ ori wards would have cause a furore and Ma¯ ori didn’t want to cop that, he said, but he hopes the move might encourage Ma¯ ori to participate more fully in the democratic process.
Cr Ryan Hamilton said it’s an opportunity that has to be taken.
‘‘It’s not a silver bullet but a step in the right direction. The onus is now on Ma¯ ori to use it,’’ Hamilton said.
Three options will be presented to council – do nothing, establish a new committee or establish an external board.
According to the report, iwi, mana whenua (tradition occupants of Hamilton) and ma¯ta¯waka (pan -tribal groups) support the recommended option.
Cr Paula Southgate – former chairwoman at the Waikato Regional Council which has two Ma¯ori wards – said there has been an appetite from Ma¯ ori for ‘‘more meaningful working relationships’’ with council.
‘‘It gives us a direct line to the Ma¯ ori world view and some of the potential solutions in that,’’ Southgate said.
Cr Angela O’Leary said it’s a good move after the community advisory panels were axed.
‘‘We have none of that anymore so I’m actually really looking forward to having a new perspective which brings diversity with it around that committee table.’’
Cr Rob Pascoe said if it’s just a token gesture, he’ll oppose it while Cr Geoff Taylor said more voices at the table will inevitably lead to better decision making.
‘‘There is nothing to be scared of and it is high time we had some Ma¯ori representation on council,’’ Taylor said.
Crs Martin Gallagher, Siggi Henry and Leo Tooman had not read the report when called on Tuesday and declined to comment. Crs James Casson and Garry Mallett could not be reached while Cr Mark Bunting, who wasn’t in favour of Ma¯ori wards last year, has yet to make up his mind.
‘‘I’m glad we stayed away from the Ma¯ ori wards because I don’t think the community is ready for that, yet,’’ Bunting said. ‘‘Whatever we do here, we’ve got to make sure we bring the public with us.