‘Racist’ Māori depiction in Three Waters cartoon
A cartoon in a West Coast newspaper has been labelled ‘racist and abhorrent’.
The cartoon by Hokitika cartoonist David Thomas Healy was published in the Greymouth Star on Thursday.
It depicts a Māori person at The Three Waters Table saying ‘‘It’s not theirs it’s mine’’ along with a Pakeha person asking a group ‘‘Do you ratepayers want your water?’’.
The editor of the newspaper is Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio chairman Paul Madgwick, who did not respond to requests for comment.
Healy defended the cartoon saying the Māori character was Minister of Local Government Nanaia Mahuta representing the Government, not all Māori.
The Government has announced it will take control of water services and assets from the 67 local councils, and set up four regional bodies governed by a ‘‘regional representation group’’ of which members would be a 50-50 split between council and iwi group representatives.
A Media Council spokesperson said no complaints had been received about the cartoon.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Kaiwhakahaere Lisa Tumahai said she was saddened by the cartoon.
‘‘I am appalled the Greymouth
Star has published such racist and abhorrent cartoons which should never have been drawn, let alone published,’’ she said.
Tumahai said the outdated racist depictions in cartoons had received well-deserved criticism.
She called the Three Waters cartoon disgraceful, but also factually incorrect.
’’Ngāi Tahu has never sought to own Three Waters infrastructure, and we have always backed public ownership and safeguards against any potential privatisation.
‘‘Our goal through partnership is to ensure the health of local waterways is not compromised, and all communities have equitable access to safe and resilient water services.’’