Manawatū District Council reverses its decision on Māori ward for 2022

Some supporters of a Maori ward did their kōrero with signs. Photo / Judith Lacy

Thursday was mayor Helen Worboys' birthday, but by changing her mind on a Māori ward for next year she was the one giving the koha.

The Manawatū District mayor, deputy mayor Michael Ford and councillor Heather Gee-Taylor reversed their decision two weeks ago to not support a Māori ward for the 2022 local government elections.

A key factor in their decision was the hapū of the district withdrawing their membership of Ngā Manu Tāiko and other iwi engagement forums in protest of the council's May 6 decision to consider the establishment of a Māori ward before the 2025 elections.

The newly formed Te Kōtui Reo Taumata Collective withdrew from all formal engagement with the council at all levels, until such time as its position as te tiriti partners was acknowledged and respected.

When Worboys said at the crowded meeting on Thursday she would support a Māori ward for 2022, some in the packed gallery starting singing Happy Birthday to her.

Cr Shane Casey seconds the motion in favour of establishing a Maori ward. To his right is Cr Alison Short who moved the motion. Photo / Judith Lacy

Before going into the meeting, Professor Meihana Durie told the supporters of a Māori ward that irrespective of what happened they could be proud of what they had achieved in the past two weeks. This included a protest hīkoi along Manchester St on May 11.

Cr Stuart Campbell, who abstained from the previous vote after declaring a conflict of interest, said the conflict no longer applied as his personal interests no longer existed. He voted in favour of the establishment of a Māori ward next year.

Before the vote Fiona Kahukura Chase, from Taumarunui, asked councillors what they were scared of.

"It is time. It is over time. You need to be courageous and it is not even that hard, we are a loving people."

Māori wards were about giving people on the Māori electoral roll the right to be heard. They were also about tino rangatiratanga, she said. "We just want to be at the table."

Speaking on behalf of the Te Kōtui Reo Taumata Collective, Durie said the decision two weeks ago came as an "immense shock to our people".

"As the tiriti partners of the council, as the kaitiaki of the land upon which these very council chambers stand, we felt disrespected and let down by our council," Durie said.

"It is with our voices today that we reach out to each of you as councillors with a final twelfth-hour plea to hear our voices, our mamae, our pain, and to recognise that the only way change can happen is through courage."

Amiria Arapere urged the council to make a hard right, not an easy wrong, while Oriana Paewai said one person, one vote only works when there is equality.

Wiremu Kingi Te Awe Awe asked the elected members to take away the prejudice and be Treaty partners.

Tangata whenua and supporters file into the chamber chamber. Photo / Judith Lacy

From a pēpē being breastfed to a kaumatua hunched over his walking stick, tangata whenua of all ages were present at the nearly two and a half hour meeting. During the presentations, the "faces of the future" - tamariki and rangatahi - were called to the front to perform a haka.

The opportunity for the council to debate the issue against came after the four councillors who supported a Māori ward for 2022 at the last meeting, Alison Short, Shane Casey, Phil Marsh and Hilary Humphrey, signed a motion that the previous resolution be revoked.

Cr Phil Marsh addresses the packed gallery. Photo / Judith Lacy

On Thursday, Short said Māori had been waiting since 1840 to take their rightful place at the table and if Manawatū District did not establish a Māori ward she feared for the council's reputation.

"Other parties will come and go but tangata whenua will always be tangata whenua."

Casey asked how the council could consult with iwi with no iwi at the table.

Humphrey said she wept at the injustice delivered two weeks ago. Māori wards could only lead to better council processes and more richly informed decision-making.

Cr Grant Hadfield said the community was rightly or wrongly divided and it was fair the views of others in the community were respected.

Cr Andrew Quarrie said he has seen and heard nothing to change his opinion. Cr Steve Bielski said iwi had got so much publicity in the past two weeks they could put a candidate up in a general ward and get in.

Ford said he had been torn between his personal view and the views of the majority of the district.

Gee-Taylor said the way she had been spoken to since the May 6 decision by both sides of the debate was not acceptable. Clearly emotional, she said she now supported a Māori ward because of the effect the earlier decision would have on staff and processes. Council business would be held up if it was not working alongside iwi.

Worboys said the issue had divided her council. She acknowledged the concerns of council staff about their inability to carry out their work if iwi would not engage.

The decision to establish a Māori ward automatically triggers a representation review, which will give residents of the Manawatū District the chance to have their say on how councillors are elected for the next two elections.

This will include whether councillors are elected from geographically based wards, or from the district as a whole, and how many councillors there are. Consultation for the representation review starts shortly and will conclude late June.

Kerry Searancke with his copy of the agenda signed by the elected representatives who voted in favour of a Maori ward for 2022. Photo / Judith Lacy

After the meeting, Kerry Searancke got the elected members who supported a Māori ward to sign his copy of the agenda. He said it had been an awesome couple of weeks - up, down, but now going up and up.