Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones says they remain confident about New Zealand's fuel supply, but remain ready to act further if necessary. Video / Ryan Bridge TODAY
Shane Jones has labelled an Act councillor’s complaints that a co-governance “takeover on steroids” was happening in the Far North as “perverse” and “pathetic”.
Following a social media firestorm sparked by Bay of Islands-Whangaroa ward councillor Davina Smolders over Māori involvement in local body politics, the Far North District Councilyesterday voted to expand a Māori liaison committee.
The council’s plans caused online controversy after Smolders claimed in an interview with podcaster Duncan Garner that appointment of unelected members to its committees was “illegal”, “undemocratic” and “co-governance on steroids”.
More than 100 people, many carrying Tino Rangatiratanga flags and homemade banners, gathered outside the council chambers in Kaikohe to support the plans and under-pressure Mayor Moko Tepania before yesterday’s meeting to finalise the committee’s membership.
Smolders had called for Local Government Minister Simon Watts to appoint a Crown monitor, claiming Māori influence was “infiltrating every single decision” and was a “complete takeover” resulting in “two systems, two rules” – which Watts declined, saying the high threshold in law to intervene had not been met.
New Zealand First Cabinet minister Shane Jones, who is based in Kerikeri and has long been an advocate for Northland, said Smolders’ complaints are a “bad look for the north” and shows she’s “probably not worthy of being a councillor”.
“I just think it’s pathetic that we can’t sort out local political issues locally,” he told Ryan Bridge TODAY. “I’ve met the lady once who has made the complaint, but she’s better off sorting her issues out as a member of the council.
“When you sign up to be a councillor, you take on certain obligations and to me, it’s quite perverse that she’s running to Wellington and wailing that somehow Wellington has to come up to Kaikohe and solve their problems.
“Not only does it show she’s probably not worthy of being a councillor, it’s a bad look for the north.”
Shane Jones (left) slammed Davina Smolders' claims about "co-governance on steroids" at Far North District Council. Photos / NZME
The Local Government Act provides “principles and requirements for local authorities that are intended to facilitate participation by Māori in local authority decision-making processes” – and seemingly encourages what Tepania and the council are doing.
Jones agreed, saying Tepania has “got a bit of a bad rap over the last week”.
“I think our local mayor, love him or hate him, he’s an enthusiastic young man. He’s got a bit of a bad rap over the last week.
“But I just want everyone to be reminded, Rodney Hide created the Super City. Rodney Hide, the [former] leader of the Act Party, imposed on New Zealand the statutory Māori board. So if there’s half a dozen loose Ngāpuhi turning up at a meeting and eating too much, that’s hardly a major revelation or a capital crime.”
Smolders told the Herald: “Shane Jones would have a point if Far North voters actually had full control of the council.
“But the reason I’ve called for a Crown Observer is precisely because democratic control is being undermined by unelected appointees, and by co-governance, which I thought New Zealand First opposed”.
The steps towards structured consultation with Māori – almost 50% of the Far North population – began years ago under a different council and mayor.
At yesterday’s meeting, councillors voted (nine to one with one abstaining) to confirm representatives from specific hapū to sit on the council’s Te Kuaka committee. Smolders was the single opposing vote.
Once appointed, those representatives would hold full speaking and voting rights alongside elected councillors on a committee tasked with shaping Māori strategic relationships and embedding Te Tiriti-based partnership in council decision-making.
