Ward vote ‘pragmatic’

Kā piti News asked Paraparaumu ward councillor Glen Cooper why he voted against a Mā ori ward for the next local body elections

I seldomly vote on what I want personally . . .

Firstly, I would say I fully support our mana whenua at the table, they bring a lot of value to our discussions and decision-making. I have very much enjoyed their representation over the past year, particularly Kim Tahiwi for Nga Hapu Ō taki whose perspective I enjoy.

There are very good arguments for a Mā ori ward and arguably good reasons for not having a Mā ori ward.

Currently we have three of our four mana whenua in our Kā piti Coast District Council rohe at council, they are at all subcommittees with full voting rights.

We have three of our four mana whenua at full council meetings with full speaking rights not voting rights.

These are unelected positions which I have no issue with. It was decided after consultation in the last triennium that this was the way forward, which we also voted for in this triennium. The three iwi did not want a Mā ori ward in the last triennium.

Iwi, and as a result of today’s council now want a Mā ori ward as an add-on to that representation, not instead of.

If we end up with our fourth mana whenua at the table, that is if Muaupoko Tribal

Authority ask to join and sit formally at the KCDC table, that would be four Mā ori unelected seats with full voting rights at all subcommittee and speaking rights at full committee.

Add in the new Mā ori ward, that would be five Mā ori votes at all subcommittees which is not representative of our community. And potentially five Mā ori votes at full council in the future.

Don’t forget, we will lose a district-wide general seat most likely as a result of the representative review in order to implement the Mā ori seat.

I have no idea if Muaupoko Tribal Authority want to be at the table in Kapiti, as they are represented and recognised in the Horowhenua council. If they did want to be represented at KCDC I would not be opposed to it based on their mana whenua status in parts of our northern rohe.

Based on the above this is not proportional and representative of the community and actually unbalanced.

Voting for a Mā ori ward triggers a $300,000 representation review which comes out of opex that is almost 0.5 per cent of rates increase. As with all councils we are struggling with rates affordability.

With the Mā ori representation we currently have, I am happy with the proportionality and want to act prudently to avoid rates increase. This matter could be dealt with at the next mandated representation review in I think four years.

We have only just had a representative review. In the last triennium just before the last election, mana whenua did not want a Mā ori ward in that review and argued strongly for not wanting one.

There are also issues with the Mā ori ward such as any person can stand, they don’t even have to be of Mā ori descent which is a bit odd.

Community consultation was strongly against a Mā ori ward — 548 responses of which I read every one — 69 per cent against 31 per cent for a ward. I also received comments and emails supporting the Mā ori ward and those against a Mā ori ward (mostly against).

Some of those against may be as a result of the past 6 years from mixed central government messaging, I don’t know. There were a host of reasons listed why people were for and against, most of the comments were valid comments and discussions and a varied viewpoint

I represent the community, why go out to consultation, and then just ignore it.

Even those in the consultation document who were enrolled on the Mā ori roll were almost split, 56 per cent in favour and 46 per cent against. What’s with that!

I have always said that I represent the community, I seldomly vote on what I want personally, I believe. I represent the people from Paraparaumu ward and wider Kā piti view.

They spoke and I listened to all sides of the debate and voted on the basis of community feedback and other evidence-based decision mindset.

My vote was not a vote against Mā ori and should not be seen as such nor was it any type of political statement, just a pragmatic vote based on all the evidence.

I look forward to welcoming the Mā ori ward member into KCDC at the next local body election and working for the betterment for our community alongside our mana whenua partners who I am already sitting next to and whose discourse I enjoy.

Editor’s note: Kā piti News sought Waikanae ward councillor Jocelyn Prvanov’s opinion why she voted against a Mā ori ward but didn’t receive a response.