Te Arawa vote: Flavell says racism defeated

Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell.

Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell says racism has been booted out the door with today's council vote on Maori representation.

"Racism has been defeated by fairness, justice and reason today," the Maori Party co-leader said in response to Te Arawa winning their battle for stronger local government representation.

The Rotorua District Council has voted to accept a modified version of the Te Arawa Partnership Model today after receiving more than 1800 submissions on the issue. This will ensure that a Te Arawa representative will be on all standing committees.

"During the submission hearings, the people of Te Arawa have had to stare at, and sit next to, the ugly face of racism, but today it was booted out the door, and rightfully so. I am so relieved that the tangata whenua of Rotorua have been listened to because what is good for Te Arawa is good for the city.

"Non-Maori have nothing to fear from an improved partnership at local government between Te Arawa and the Council. Our history is one of caring for everyone in our district. Te Arawa gifted the land that is now the township and in the spirit of manaakitanga, the proposed partnership going forward gives expression to this," says Mr Flavell.

"Our young people drove this campaign to a whole new level using all sorts of measures to educate and inform our community about the issues related to fairer representation and I'm sure that inspired so many of our people to get along to the hearings and have their say."

Maori Party Co-leader Marama Fox said: "The leadership shown by Te Arawa and the Rotorua District Council today is an example of what can be achieved if justice is at the forefront of our decisions. Let me be clear - the option agreed today is an alternative to the unjust legislation that makes it almost impossible for M?ori wards to be established."

"It is the only piece of legislation that requires a referendum regarding representation. This unfair legislation is firmly in our sights and we intend to do everything we can to change it," says Mrs Fox.