Bayden Barber: No more excuses for Maori voters to ignore local body elections

Bayden Barber

It is no secret that voter turnout for local body elections is generally poor with 48 per cent voting in Hawke's Bay in 2013 and only 42 per cent nationwide. Maori voter participation is known to be much worse than this.

Why is this? Why is it that many Maori do not vote? During this campaign I've heard a number of excuses why Maori haven't voted before.

"I don't even know what the Council does."

"I never knew any of those people running."

"What's the elections got to do with me?"

"I don't see any Maori faces on the billboards."

Well, this election is a different story, and those excuses are no longer valid. Take a drive between Hastings and Havelock North and you'll see plenty of Maori faces dotting the landscape.

There are no less than 20 Maori candidates running for DHB and/or Council from Central Hawke's Bay up to Wairoa including two for mayor, which is a marked increase on previous elections.

This is fantastic, however if it doesn't translate into more Maori in Council and DHB seats then Maori voter apathy will be the primary reason.

As for the issues, these have been well publicised and they affect Maori as much as everyone else. The water contamination in Havelock North and subsequent events impacted many residents.

The very public opposition to the kura relocation, the ongoing Ruataniwha Dam debate, and the exporting of millions of litres of water from our aquifers are all issues affecting the Maori community. Maori perspectives on these and other issues are needed and will only add value to Council decision-making to the benefit of all.

The key health statistics for Maori and Pacific peoples in our region are appalling. More work is needed to reduce inequalities in health, housing and education. Having strong Maori leadership on the DHB and Council is vital to achieving this.

So what are we going to do about this? Designated Maori seats are not the answer, engaged Maori voters are.

My hope is that people will find their voting envelopes, open them up and exercise their democratic right to vote. There are no longer any excuses not to.

Bayden Barber is a candidate for the Hastings District Council in the upcoming local government elections. He is also chair of Health Hawke's Bay and a trustee of the Maori Education Trust.