Council ‘clearly out of touch’

The only Taranaki council not to establish Ma¯ori representation has been criticised again – this time by local iwi.

Nga¯ ti Ruanui and Nga¯ ruahine representatives called Stratford District Council ‘‘out of touch’’ at its long-term plan hearing yesterday.

‘‘In a single decision, made by you as a council, Nga¯ti Ruanui feels disgust and a loss of goodwill,’’ Graham Young, of Te Runanga O Nga¯ ti Ruanui Trust, said.

‘‘You have probably undermined all the engagement you’ve achieved to date.’’

Around 40 supporters filled the gallery, with waiata (song), cheers of tautoko (support), and pakipaki (clapping) filling the chamber.

‘‘Our collective iwi voice has never been louder and that’s reflected here today,’’ Young said. ‘‘The council is clearly out of touch with tangata whenua.’’

The iwi submissions did not address anything within the 10-year plan, but Young argued working with Ma¯ori was a big part of planning for the future.

‘‘Non-Ma¯ ori residents simply don’t know what it’s like to be oppressed,’’ Young added. ‘‘No offence to you individually, but looking around this table, maybe that’s how this is represented today.’’

Young said the council only ever approached iwi as a ‘‘tick box exercise’’.

‘‘Is tangata whenua nothing more than tokenism? Dialling up for a karakia or po¯ whiri [when it] suits? But are you refusing to start to listen?’’

He said Nga¯ti Ruanui was shocked to hear about the council’s decision through the media.

‘‘Perhaps this is reflective of our relationship.’’

Last August, Stratford councillors unanimously decided to put off making a decision on Ma¯ ori ward until 2024.

In March, after the Government changed the law that allowed the community to force a binding referendum on any Ma¯ori ward decision, Stratford Mayor Neil Volzke brought the discussion back to the table.

But deputy mayor Alan Jamieson and councillors Grant Boyde, Rick Coplestone, Jono Erwood, Vaughan Jones, John Sandford and Gloria Webby voted to wait until 2024 to begin the process.

John Hooker, deputy chair of Te Korowai o Nga¯ ruahine, said the iwi contacted members on Monday about a Ma¯ ori ward, and ‘‘the overwhelming response’’ was in support.

‘‘It’s time to get on with the job, it’s time to pull the sleeves up – we need to get this done.’’

Hours after the group left, councillor McKay asked the room how to repair the now ‘‘damaged relationship’’.

Council chief executive Sven Hanne said he didn’t think the relationship was damaged, and conversations would continue and grow.

Mayor Volzke disagreed. He said if the council chose to revisit the issue, they only had until Friday to make a decision.

Councillors unofficially decided, for a third time, to make a call on Ma¯ ori wards at a later date.