Residents divided on the question of aMa¯ori ward
There’s a hot topic in town— Ma¯ori Wards.
Residents are divided on the merits of the requirement to introduce a dedicated seat at the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, and the discussion is heating up as final voting on the May 19 referendum draws near.
The referendum was forced on council after it voted 9-3 last year in favour of having aMa¯ori Ward. Opponents responded to the vote by gathering 4500 signatures— more than enough needed to decide the issue by a binding referendum of all the district’s eligible voters.
Katikati resident Christina Humphreys said in her view there would be “blood on the floor” if theMa¯ori Ward goes ahead.
“People are getting angry aboutMa¯ori Wards as they will overload council bureaucracy. We think it’s all about money and not about what’s good for residents and ratepayers.”
Ms Humphreys points out councillor Mike Lally said last year the public hears a lot about “theMa¯ori voice” but it seldom hears what theMa¯ori voice is supposed to be, or wants to be saying.”
The debate on whether to vote for a
Ma¯ori Ward may come down to the buy-in to the concept by Ma¯ori constituents in the region, but they too appear to be disengaged from Council’s activities, said unsuccessful 2016 mayoral candidate Kevin Tohiariki.
He said there were shared and common values betweenMa¯ori and the wider multi-cultural community and it was these shared values that should be part of the day to day business of council.
“The establishment of aMa¯ori Ward is a stepping stone towards greater engagementwithMa¯ori as not just stakeholders, but as Treaty partners which is good for the region, good for the
land and good for ratepayers.”
Tiki Bluegum, cultural advisor for the hapu¯ ofNga¯i Tamawhariua, agrees with the establishment of aMa¯ori Ward and said the right to be heard as equal partner was a fundamental requirement of the Treaty of Waitangi.
“There is an economic tsunami coming with Ma¯ori involvement in the land and local resource management and it is time to recogniseMa¯ori as partners— not just stakeholders.”
Voting documents for the $70,000 referendum have been sent to all electors on the district’s electoral roll and they have until noon, May 19 to return them.