Maxine Boag: Equal representation in fair and decent society

Maxine Boag

With the instatement of a new, female Prime Minister, an articulate, highly principled young woman, along with her many very capable female Cabinet ministers and opponents, the value of female representation in our political bodies is indisputable. Women are equally as good as men in any leadership role and bring a different voice needed for balance.

As it is in local bodies. In the Napier City Council, having six out of 13 councillors women, to me reflects the respect women leaders are accorded in Napier, and the value placed on having fair democratic representation.

We can thank former Mayor Barbara Arnott for removing any glass ceilings, making it easier for those of us who followed her.

Gone are the days in politics of having only born-to-rule rich white men ruling the roost: male politicians now often find themselves in a henhouse under a new pecking order!

So I feel very proud to be a Kiwi and a Napier citizen. Women's rights are human rights and adequate political representation is a clear indicator of a fair and decent society.

However things have not been so easy for Maori at the local body level. Here in Napier, it took 140 years for us to elect our first Maori councillor. Little or no representation for 20 per cent of our population over our city's 140 years of existence is nothing to be proud of. As they say, democracy is the tyranny of the majority.

While we deplore the low Maori voter turnout, we offer no reason for them to engage, or anyone like them to vote for. Consultation committees, private meetings between Maori groups and managers, "high level" discussions outside the council debating chamber can only supplement, not replace having Maori themselves speaking and voting at the highest decision-making table.

I was the only person on council who voted for Maori wards - or at least against the "no wards" recommendation. I know how hard it is (almost impossible, and costly) for Maori to get elected on to councils like ours; and if they are, they have been put there to represent mainstream voters, the majority of whom are non-Maori.

Maori wards, with voters on the Maori roll, would guarantee representation for a very significant minority, tangata whenua, our Treaty partners, who have long been invisible throughout our council's decision making processes. With two Maori ward councillors, they would still be in a minority, but would have a say.

However, the issue will not be on a council agenda for at least the next three years. In the meantime, if we value Maori representation on council, now is the time to approach and tautoko (support) electable Maori candidates whose input would add so much value to our council.

Like with women, fair Maori representation is a no-brainer. It's just a matter of finding ways to make it happen.

Maxine Boag is a Napier City councillor. Views expressed here are the writer's opinion and not the newspaper's. Email: editor@hbtoday.co.nz