‘Keep our Māori wards' campaign kicks off with security caution
Photo:
Te Korimako o Taranaki via LDR
A bid to retain Māori representation at Taranaki council tables kicked off on the weekend with a call for whānau-level pushback against what campaigners say is deliberate disinformation.
Speakers at Saturday's organising meeting also warned referendums on Māori wards across New Zealand would spark vitriol - and potentially worse.
New Plymouth councillor Dinnie Moeahu called the hui, saying misinformation was causing misunderstanding and fear, while disinformation was dividing communities.
He represents New Plymouth's five-councillor 'at-large' ward, having topped the poll with general roll voters in 2022.
Likewise, he said, anyone could stand in a Māori ward to be elected by Māori roll voters.
"Non-Māori can also stand in the Māori ward seat. Ōrite: it's the same."
Moeahu said opponents were incorrectly labelling Māori council seats as 'race-based'.
Māori wards were Treaty-based, he said: created to ensure effective representation and help meet Crown obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, as spelled out in the Local Government Act.
Almost all Māori wards and constituencies face being extinguished via referendum at October's local elections, including those at Taranaki's four councils.
The government changed the law a year ago, requiring binding polls on local Māori seats to fulfil National's coalition deals with ACT and New Zealand First.
They said the change was to restore democracy to communities on a significant change to local democracy.
Moeahu said anti-Māori groups were ready with a campaign labelling the wards race-based as soon as the government reintroduced referendums last July.
"It was well-resourced, it was strategised superbly and executed with perfection - and less than 24 hours after the law received Royal Assent."
Former New Plymouth mayor Andrew Judd copped abuse when he backed Māori wards a decade ago - and he warns more is coming.
Photo:
Te Korimako o Taranaki via LDR
Andrew Judd won New Plymouth's mayoralty in 2013, standing down at the next election after his unyielding support for a Māori ward drew persistent, often public abuse - including of his children.
Judd said he predicted more of the same from opponents of guaranteed Māori representation.
"My intel is that they are well geared-up, and they are going to be ... destructive," Judd said.
"Because their hatred is real - and we cannot let hate win."
Te Waka McLeod has agreed Moeahu will accompany her to meetings for fear of confrontation during election season.
Photo:
Te Korimako o Taranaki via LDR
Moeahu said the escalating risk of physical threat prompted him and councillor Te Waka McLeod to agree he would accompany her to public meetings till the election ends.
McLeod is the first councillor for NPDC's new Te Purutanga Mauri Pūmanawa ward.
Despite attracting online and in-person abuse, McLeod said she had been supported by fellow councillors and staff, and the council was building stronger relationships with hapū.
She said supporters from all communities must help family members better understand Māori wards with accurate information.
"It's having those conversations with your nana, with your grandma, with your uncle at your whānau kitchen table," she said.
"They may be sitting on the fence and they just need to hear a little bit of truth."
The meeting drew people keen to join the fight to keep Māori wards.
Photo:
Te Korimako o Taranaki via LDR
Other speakers included Labour MP Glen Bennett and NPDC councillors Amanda Clinton-Gohdes and Sam Bennett, who is running for mayor.
Moeahu plans more meetings to galvanise helpers ahead of a public event when voting gets underway.
Referendums must be held by 37 district and five regional councils.
No other type of ward can be voted down.
At the meeting, Margy-Jean Malcolm told LDR it was crucial to have clear information.
"This is actually institutional racism, when we treat Māori wards differently from say a rural ward or any other ward.
"We don't give the entire population a vote as to whether those wards should exist or not."
Lance Mepham had seen candidates pushing misinformation.
"I went to a few meetings here recently, and I was really surprised at the rhetoric and just some of the nasty things that were being said about the Māori ward."
He said Māori brought good things to the table for everybody.
"Economic and also cultural contributions - there's just so much that Māori can give and offer this community."
EJ Barrett said the wards had already boosted Māori participation in local democracy by 22 percent.
"My children are Māori so I have a vested interest to make sure there's always going to be a space for them in representative democracy - and so they can see themselves in democracy."
"It's just the right thing to do, mate."
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
40 minutes ago
- Scoop
Taranaki Regional Councillors Urged To Quit Election Over Treaty Principles Fiasco
Councillors involved in quashing debate over the Treaty Principles Bill at the Taranaki Regional Council have received a dressing down at a fiery meeting in Stratford. Council was considering a report which found councillors colluded not to make a submission on the bill and halt debate. New Plymouth District Councillor Dinnie Moeahu - whose deputation was shunted down the agenda in December - addressed council today in front of whanau and supporters. "What unfolded that day was absolutely disgusting and shameful. I witnessed some elected members bully their way to getting what they wanted. "And now your conduct has been extensively investigated, documented, reviewed and condemned and made public for the world to see." He said what happened was not just a breach of process, but a breach of trust and the fundamental democratic and cultural responsibilities the TRC was obligated to uphold. Moeahu said a submission prepared by TRC which expressed concern about the Treaty Principles Bill was abruptly dismissed without discussion. "Let's not mince words that was not governance, that was cowardice hiding behind collusion." He said the offending councillors attempt to brush-off their actions as a miscommunication didn't wash with him. "I was met with contempt, I was made to feel less." Moeahu said the TRC had statuary obligations to take the Treaty of Waitangi into account and it had partnering with Māori explicitly enshrined as a strategic priority in its long-term plan. "This isn't a training issue. It's an absolute failure in governance. When elected members treat Treaty matters as too political or not appropriate you betray your role." He hoped the point of reckoning the report represented could be a turning point for the TRC. "Leadership is a privilege you have been afforded... do better Taranaki Regional Council." Dinnie Moeahu's father Peter - an iwi appointee to the council's Policy and Planning Committee - also made a deputation and took aim at councillors by name. "People who spout democracy but connive behind closed doors to suppress it. "People like councillor (Tom) Cloke, councillor Donald McIntrye and councillor (Neil) Walker who used their privilege position to bully the regional council chair and chief executive into submission at the December 10 meeting." Peter Moeahu said whether the councillors adopted the report or not he would not trust them or forgive them for how they treated his son. He called on them to withdraw from the local government elections. "Our community deserves better, our community deserves people who are open-minded, environmentally focussed ... and willing to have a meaningful and open relationship with hapū, iwi and manuwhenua. "My recommendation? Withdraw from the ballot." At the closing of his deputation, the Moeahu whānau performed an impassioned haka. Council chief executive Steve Ruru then spoke briefly to the report which he authored. He reminded the council of its findings that the Treaty Principles Bill was relevant to TRC business and to make a submission and debate it appropriately. "One of the big learnings coming out of this is that process issue again which is highlighted in there and obviously there are a range of recommendations made." Taranaki Māori Constituency councillor Bonita Bingham believed council had underestimated "the impact of the trampling of our mana" events of December had for Māori. "I really thank Peter and Dinnie for their kōrero today because their words expressed what many of us are feeling. "I would like all councillors to deeply reflect on the actions and collusion and predetermination that lead to the decision on December 10. "This was no miscommunication this was a deliberate attempt to squash our voice." After sitting in stoney silence Donald McIntyre was the only one of the three councillors directly under fire to speak during the meeting. "Obviously I've upset some people with my actions and I'm sorry they feel aggrieved." McIntyre acknowledge that it was correct the Treaty Principles Bill submission was on the December agenda. But he said if Dinnie Moeahu being shunted down the agenda was a problem someone should have raised it at the time. "I have yet to see any reference of standing orders being breached and like I say if they were they weren't highlighted at the time." McIntyre believed the procedures used on the day were appropriate and democratic because they were all voted on in an open meeting. "Morally we may have been better to have discussed the item that is probably something we can reflect on in the future, but I still stand by the decision we made at the time." McIntyre said iwi council relations had not been set back significantly "there hasn't been a good relationship in the first instance". That fired up councillor Susan Hughes. "I find it extraordinary that you are sitting here today trying to justify what wasn't in fact and never could be justified. "You set out to exclude myself and councillor Bingham from being involved in any of this. That was the plan and that was the plan that was executed. "You undermined the integrity of this organisation by behaving as you did." Council voted to adopt the report and all its recommendations with McIntyre voting against the motion. Following the meeting, Walker said he would not be withdrawing from the local government elections in October. "I think we're done with this. We've done our thing and we'd like to draw a conclusion over it and put it aside." He denied any collusion had ever occurred. "As far as I'm concerned there was no meetings or any of those things. There was discussion at meetings like today but not meetings." Walker was not inclined to apologise. "What for?" Cloke declined to comment on whether he would pull out of the election race. McIntyre was not standing for re-election. He accepted councillors had colluded ahead of the December meeting. "What's new about that? Of course we did, like I say, when we elect a chairman we collude before the meeting, is there something wrong with that." McIntyre made an apology of sorts. "I apologise to Bonita (Bingham) and Susan (Hughes) for not discussing it (the submission) but I have not further grounds to apologise."
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
NCEA overhaul concerns Kura Kaupapa Māori, opportunity to consider own qualifications
A student's book at Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Takapu Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly Kura Kaupapa Māori have expressed concern about the government's proposal to replace NCEA with a new qualification model, saying kura kaupapa students have only just mastered the current system. Co-chairperson of Te Rūnanga Nui o ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa Rawiri Wright said he supports the establishment of an assessment framework that ensures integrity and mana for Māori learners, but the current proposal fails to accommodate the proven strengths of Kura Kaupapa Māori. "My gut reaction is it's a return to the bad old days of the school certificate regime and that didn't do us any favours as Māori people." But Wright said there could be an opportunity for kura to consider their own qualifications. "Perhaps the time has come for Kura Kaupapa Māori and Te Aho Matua schools to consider establishing our own qualifications and assessment strategies, aligned with the learning programmes of the Māori wānanga across the country." Education Minister Erica Stanford told Nine to Noon there was "too much credit counting" with NCEA. "I can see the system is being gamed... Credits are being used to get students across the line, like participating in a group activity or filling out a form," she said. Rawiri Wright says the proposed replacement was a monocultural, Eurocentric approach to education, he said. Photo: Te Rawhitiroa Bosch But Wright said the NCEA model has provided greater flexibility for Kura Kaupapa. He questioned why the game was being changed now. "It seems to us that our Kura Kaupapa Māori kids and kaiako (teachers) and kura, we got really familiar, we learnt how to play the NCEA game really well, to the point where the ministry now has 15 years of data which shows that our kids have outperformed all other schooling options in the country in terms of NCEA achievement." A Qualifications Authority report from 2024 showed that students at kaupapa Māori schools achieved better NCEA results than their peers at comparable English-medium schools. They had NCEA achievement rates of 63 percent at level 1, 72 percent at level 2 and 73 percent at level 3. Achievement rates for all students in the comparator group of English-medium schools were 54, 66 and 61 percent and for Māori students in those schools the rates were 50, 64 and 56 percent. Wright said the consultation process, which closes 15 September, is a very short window to pull together a high quality meaningful response to the governments proposal. "The minister and the prime minister have said themselves that they want to get something in place before the end of the year so it just means that we all have to be on our game and get our submissions together quickly." The proposed NCEA replacement was a monocultural, Eurocentric approach to education, he said. "The process of education that they're still insisting on foisting upon us is that of a mono-cultural Eurocentric education system which has been in place in the country for 269 years. It has not worked for thousands of Māori and Pasifika students, why on earth would they think these changes are going to make any significant difference to that."
RNZ News
3 hours ago
- RNZ News
Fiji's anti-corruption watchdog charges top prosecutor, initiates extradition proceedings
Fiji's suspended chief prosecutor, New Zealander Christopher Pryde Photo: Christopher Pryde Fiji's anti-corruption watchdog has charged the country's top prosecutor, who is in self-imposed exile in New Zealand, with corruption. The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) has also initiated "extradition proceedings" against New Zealander Christopher Pryde. In a press statement on Tuesday, FICAC said Pryde had been charged in absentia on three counts by the Suva Magistrates Court. FICAC claims that while serving as director of Office of Public Prosecutions, Pryde "approved and received" approximately NZ$102,000 without obtaining the necessary approvals from the President's Office and the Judicial Services Commission. "He is charged with causing a loss, on the basis that he dishonestly caused financial loss to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions by accepting these unauthorised payments." FICAC said Pryde faces a second count of abuse of office for allegedly approving and receiving eight reimbursements for airfares for his wife and child (worth approximately NZ$35,000), and has been charged with obtaining a financial advantage by knowingly receiving payments to which he was not entitled. The anti-corruption office is also alleging that, on or about 16 September 2022, Pryde was reimbursed almost NZ$6000 for unused air tickets by Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. It alleged that, although the airline refunded him directly, he failed to return the amount. The court has adjourned the case to 15 September for an update on the status of the extradition process. Pryde had been reinstated to the role in January of this year following a 21-month suspension. In a statement to reporters, Pryde said he is "dismayed" at FICAC's decision "without giving me the right to speak in my defence". "This is a clear violation of my civil and constitutional rights. I categorically deny any wrongdoing," he said. "The decision by FICAC to charge me in absentia lead me to the conclusion that there is a concerted effort to keep me out of Fiji and prevent me from resuming my duties as the Director of Public Prosecutions." Earlier this year, Pryde had written to Foreign Minister Winston Peters to intervene in his case after his salary was cut of by the Fiji government. Pryde is a New Zealand citizen and held Fiji's top prosecutor position from 2011. He was suspended in April 2023, midway into his seven-year contract, over allegations of misconduct. A three-judge Tribunal appointed by the President later cleared him of any wrongdoin, and reinstated on 7 January. However, just two days after this reinstatement, his deputy - who had been serving as the acting director public prosecutions - filed a fresh complaint against him with FICAC. Pryde maintains his innocence and says he has not returned to Fiji because he has not received assurance by the Judicial Services Commission that they would not suspend him upon his return. "And I would be forced to, once again, defend myself whilst being deprived of my income".
