Te Kanohi call disputed

Māori have been excluded from decision making in the council chamber for months, says a candidate for the Waipā by election.

Bill Harris says he urged mayor Susan O’Regan to reconsider her decision to put mana whenua appointments to council committees on hold because of the election.

Lack of representation goes against the wishes of the district for greater iwi participation in the council chambers, and he said he “advised the mayor of my disappointment”.

O’Regan stands by the decision.See: Mayor backs decision

Four mana whenua representatives, known as Te Kanohi, sit on the Strategic Planning and Policy, Service Delivery, Finance and Corporate and Regulatory committees. Representatives have voting rights on each.

Harris had been on the Service Delivery committee in the previous term. He and the other three representatives attended their last meetings in September.

Interviews for new Te Kanohi representatives had been completed in March and successful applicants were due to be announced when Waipā Māori ward councillor Takena Stirling resigned following his suspension as a lawyer.

Four candidates are standing in the by election – Harris, Barney Manaia, Dale-Maree Morgan and Gaylene Roberts.

The News asked each candidate their views on the appointments going on hold and whether Te Kanohi had a role given there would be a Māori ward representative.

Harris said Te Kanohi existed before the Māori ward and there was no reason for the delay in reappointing.

“We have been excluded from decision making in the council chamber and this I believe was very much against the wishes of the district to achieve greater Māori participation at council level,” said Harris.

Continuation of Te Kanohi will give Māori another voice in council committees.

“Believe me it is not easy being the only Māori voice in the chamber and at times it does feel lonely.”

Roberts said Ngā Iwi Tōpū o Waipā mana whenua, which she chairs, supports Te Kanohi.

“The key to good relationships is knowing who we are.”

Morgan said having Te Kanohi roles would be “reassuringly supportive” for the successful candidate.

If successful, she would work with mana whenua and Te Kanohi on a strategy and plan how to be effective collectively in council.

Manaia said the four pou mahi (Te Kanohi) should continue as the breadth of work required was beyond the capability of one person.

“Running a council is serious business and providing quality advice in the areas required will save the council from expensive consultants if they are used effectively,” he said.

Postal voting papers will start to be delivered on June 1 and voting will close on June 23.