Mayor tries to end row over Chinese expo visit

A South African-born woman heading to China to represent Rotorua at an expo is still going - but she won't present a taiaha as a gift.
Last week a row erupted between Te Arawa representatives and Rotorua mayor Kevin Winters after the mayor selected Rotorua District Council community services officer Sue White to represent Rotorua at the World Historical and Cultural Cities Expo in Nanjing, China, later this month.
Mrs White was to present the mayor of Nanjing with a taiaha, a traditional Maori weapon, bought from a local souvenir wholesaler based in White St.
Mrs White - a South African-born immigrant to New Zealand - is a New Zealand citizen and has worked for the council for five years. She is responsible for pensioner housing, community halls, the Anzac Day service and sister-city relationships.
Senior Te Arawa Standing Committee member Rene Mitchell said Mrs White was not an appropriate representative.
She said sending Mrs White was "categorically unacceptable" and "an absolute slight on Te Arawa, our integrity and our mana".
However, Mr Winters said Mrs White was still going to China.
"Sue's going, but I won't be sending a taiaha with her, I will change the gift."
He said he didn't ask for advice when selecting the taiaha.
"I thought as she was my representative it was being presented on my behalf, so I didn't consult with Mauriora [Kingi, the council's director of kaupapa Maori]. I'm sorry if this caused offence," he said.
Mrs Mitchell said the taiaha wasn't the issue.
"That doesn't solve anything ... it's about tangata whenua.
"It just shows how ignorant Kevin [Winters] is of our culture and heritage, he needs to show some respect for Te Arawa.
"The problem remains, he did not consult with anyone, whether that was his council or the Te Arawa Standing Committee," Mrs Mitchell said.
Councillor Bob Martin made an impassioned plea to the mayor asking him to reconsider Mrs White's appointment during a meeting of the council last week.
"This is an insult to the Chinese and the people of Rotorua. Not one of us were asked. If you consider a person who has been in this community for about six years a suitable representative of our tangata whenua, then shame on you," Mr Martin said.
District councillor and mayoral candidate Charles Sturt said if he were to become mayor after this weekend's election Mrs White would not be going to China.
"... with due respect to Mrs White she has not the expertise or status to represent Rotorua. Any number of prominent Rotorua people could have attended," Mr Sturt said.
But Mrs White said she didn't want to cause any offence.
"I fully understand the significance of the taiaha and from my perspective it's a good decision not to take it. It's been a learning curve but we are happy and want to move on," she said.
Te Arawa kaumatua Te Poroa (Joe) Malcolm said he felt the mayor "had taken the wrong path" in selecting Mrs White.
"First of all, her presenting a taiaha was a total breach of Maori protocol - it's not a woman's place to be toting a taiaha around.
"I have to go along with Rene [Mitchell], there are a lot of people around who could fill that role. I don't know why he [Mr Winters] chose a South African woman to represent Rotorua," Mr Malcolm said.
Te Waiariki Purea Trust kaumatua Putu Mihaka said he was satisfied Mr Winters was sending the right person.
"I was not at all keen on her presenting a taiaha ... I'm glad he changed his mind. But it's her job [sister city manager] and that's what I'm all about, sending the right person for the right job," Mr Mihaka said.