Hīkoi to Ruapehu District Council chambers cancelled after meeting relocated

The council moved Wednesday's consultation meeting to The Centre in Raetihi, instead of Taumarunui. Photo / Lewis Gardner

A hīkoi organised by Ruapehu Māori to protest against the council's proposed make-up has been postponed after the council relocated the targeted meeting.

Organised by Māori representation advocate Fiona Kahukura Chase, the hīkoi was originally planned to leave from Taumarunui's Mōrero Marae to the council chambers on Wednesday.

The council originally intended to meet at the council chambers on that day to hear from submitters on the proposed changes to the council's make-up, sparked by a representation review.

The hīkoi was organised against what Chase described as the minimising of Māori representation because the council is proposing two Māori seats from a single Māori ward, rather than three seats.

Chase said that with a district-wide Māori population of 45.3 per cent, two Māori seats at the table wasn't significant enough, and the proposal displayed "an undertone of institutional racism."

Ruapehu Mayor Don Cameron denied that claim, and said the number of Māori seats is set by legislation as a proportion of the total number of councillors, and the proposal for two Māori seats as opposed to three is an option open for consultation.

But the planned protest has since been canned, after the council moved Wednesday's consultation meeting to Raetihi.

Speaking yesterday, Cameron said this was due to restrictions in place at the council's Taumarunui chambers, which meant members of the public could not enter the building.

"We know there is lots of interest in this discussion, and wanted to make sure people could attend."

Chase said with the relocation of the meeting a number of kuia and kaumātua couldn't make the journey further south, meaning the hīkoi could not go ahead.

"There will be a number of us presenting to the council, though," Chase said.

Submissions on the proposal begin at The Centre, 14 Seddon Street, Raetihi, on Wednesday morning.