Signature collecting is well under way after the New Plymouth District Council on July 21 voted to establish a Maori ward. A similar campaign is under discussion in Tauranga after the city council there on August 25 also voted for such a ward. Three other councils are being pushed to have separate voting or representation for members of their communities who may have Maori ancestry.
The Greater Wellington Regional Council will discuss Maori constituencies at its September 24 meeting.
The Wellington City Council will vote in October on appointing a paid voting representative from each of Wellington’s two official tribes – Te Ati Awa Taranaki Whanui and Ngati Toa Rangatira – to all of the council’s committees and subcommittees by July next year.
The Northland Regional Council is considering setting up Maori constituencies although there is no record on the council’s website on whether a vote is planned or has been taken.
A Maori ward (in a district or city council), or a constituency (on a regional council) is where a specified seat or number of seats is reserved for a person with Maori ancestry voted for by community members who are on the Maori roll.
Frequently, such proposals are voted on without any consultation, which means that Maori roll voters may find themselves suddenly restricted to voting for Maori candidates only.
A closer look at council activities around moves for Maori wards, constituencies, or voting tribal appointees, reveals an individual with some council role pushing an agenda.
It appears that other councillors who are often blind-sided by such proposals forget, while voting, that any representation or voting system set up based on race is in itself racist.
See: Wellington City Council https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/122566003/councillor-turns-back-on-waiata-ahead-of-vote-on-iwi-seats?fbclid=IwAR13-qzN_NNHMiHK6QnnszzsxbxEfuyUEXFevZT6Mb5Je1JxzR9WVzQe5GI
Greater Wellington Regional Council https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/422142/greater-wellington-regional-council-to-consider-maori-seat-at-table
Tauranga City Council https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/424402/tauranga-city-council-votes-for-maori-ward
Our coastal petition is growing
Our petition which asks Parliament to amend the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011 to restore public ownership of the coastal area, put all claims through the High Court, and repeal customary marine title, while affirming customary rights has picked up 24,965 signatures. We need your support. The petition may be signed at https://www.change.org/beaches4all Even if you have signed, you may follow the link to ask your social media friends to sign to.
What’s happening with Ihumatao?
Fletcher Building appears crippled by a Maori claim and Government inaction over private land at Ihumatao earmarked for housing. Our petition for the Government to allow both Te Kawerau a Maki and Fletchers to proceed with their lawful business has collected 3066 signatures. If you have not done so already, please sign our petition at http://chng.it/xPN6P55k
Frequently asked questions
- What is Hobson's Pledge? Hobson’s Pledge supporters think it is absurd to argue in the 21st century that people who chance to have a Maori ancestor, always with other ancestors too of course, should have superior rights to those who don’t. And utterly absurd that there are politicians who want to be taken seriously who still push this nonsense.
- What are the issues we're facing today?
- What are our campaigns?
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