Hobson's Pledge Māori Ward billboards
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Scoop
2 hours ago
- Scoop
EJ Barrett Stands For Council To Fight 'The Cost Of Neglect' And Defend Local Democracy
Press Release – EJ Barrett In response to growing calls from candidates proposing exorbitant cuts to council spending, EJ Barrett has announced their campaign for the KaitakeNgmotu Ward in the 2025 New Plymouth District Council election, with a clear message: 'We … In response to growing calls from candidates proposing exorbitant cuts to council spending, EJ Barrett has announced their campaign for the Kaitake–Ngāmotu Ward in the 2025 New Plymouth District Council election, with a clear message: 'We can't afford the cost of neglect.' EJ brings professional experience in budgeting and finance, dispute resolution, facilitation of learning across all ages, communications, the arts, and a strong track record of working alongside young people, disabled communities, and families doing it tough. 'I'm running because our libraries, our housing, and our community spaces are on the line,' says EJ. 'There are people running on platforms to cut costs with no real plan or policies. But slashing support doesn't save money, it shifts the burden to families, social services, and future ratepayers. The cost of neglect is paid by everyone.' 'As someone who survived a lack of access to care, I can tell you for certain, the cost of care now is cheaper than the cost of crisis later.' As part of their campaign, EJ Barrett is calling for: Save Our Libraries: -Protection of public libraries, as safe, accessible resource hubs for all ages. House The People: -Affordable housing solutions, through lower barriers for community housing providers and urban subdivisions. -Build where the infrastructure already exists to reduce pressure on rates. Connected Communities: -Investment in accessible urbanisation to avoid long-term costs caused by underfunding social infrastructure EJ supports the retention of Māori wards, to ensure our democracy stays fair and representative. 'Our democracy is strongest when everyone has a seat at the table, not just the loudest or wealthiest voices,' says EJ. 'What's at stake isn't just funding. It's the future of a fair, livable, and connected district.' With a campaign slogan of 'Libraries. Homes. Communities.', EJ Barrett is inviting voters to stand up for the things that make Ngāmotu a great place to live, before we lose them to short-term thinking and political point-scoring.
Scoop
4 hours ago
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Ex-Mayor Barbara Arnott Backs Māori Wards
Press Release – For Wards Hawke's Bay For Wards Hawke's Bay is a community coalition supporting fair, democratic representation and Mori wards, says co-ordinator Neill Gordon. Former Napier mayor Barbara Arnott has come out in support of Māori wards ahead of a referendum being held with the local body election. In a short video recorded for For Wards Hawke's Bay, Arnott, current chair of Napier's Art Deco Trust, says Māori wards work and are 'common sense'. Napier has had only three Māori councillors in 150 years. The wards being introduced in Napier for the first time this year will see 2 councillors elected by voters on the Māori electoral roll and 9 councillors elected by general roll voters. Anyone can stand as a candidate in a Māori ward. The system mirrors the Māori seats in Parliament. For Wards Hawke's Bay is a community coalition supporting fair, democratic representation and Māori wards, says co-ordinator Neill Gordon. 'People know how wards work. There's a Taradale ward to ensure that community's voice is heard, there are rural wards in Hastings to make sure the bigger urban populations don't drown out the rural voice and Māori wards are no different. 'The facts are clear. When you've had only three Māori councillors in Napier in 150 years, just four in Central Hawke's Bay and a handful in Hastings it's obvious there's a gaping hole in our democracy. 'And we're all missing out because, as councils with existing Māori wards have found, you get better community engagement and better decisions for everyone when there are Māori voices at the table. 'Māori wards have been a positive solution. By bringing in Māori culture, knowledge and ways of life, councils have become a better reflection of our communities and our shared concerns. Māori ward councillors have helped harness our collective strength by weaving our communities together so our councils can make better, long-term decisions that benefit all of us, and the places we love. 'No matter who we are or where we come from, most of us want a future where people and the environment are well cared for. 'But some people and groups are trying to divide us, and divert us from these concerns that matter to so many of us. At times, this division has meant our councils are not able to make the best decisions for our long term, ones that put care for people and our environment first.' In Napier, after a five-month consultation period in 2021 with residents on this matter, council received 1300 submissions. Although over half submitted against Māori wards, 95 per cent of those on the Māori roll submitted in favour. All those who spoke to their submissions over the two-day hearings were in favour of Māori wards. On 20 October 2021, Napier City Council resolved to introduce Māori Wards for the 2025 local body elections. The vote was carried 11 votes in favour with one abstention and with strong and resounding support voiced by councillors. The current Government passed legislation on 30 July 2024 requiring local authorities to hold a binding poll if they want to establish Māori wards. Following a two-week consultation, on 5 September 2024 Council voted to reaffirm its decision to introduce Māori wards at the 2025 local election. This confirms that Napier residents on the Māori roll will vote for two Māori ward candidates at the 2025 election. In line with new Government legislation, the matter will be settled by the community in a binding poll to be held during the 2025 election. The poll will ask the community whether we should keep Māori wards beyond the 2025-2028 triennium. If the community's answer is no, then Māori wards will be removed from the 2028 election. If the community's answer is yes, then Māori wards will remain at least until the 2031 local government election. Barbara Arnott QSO served as the 18th mayor of Napier between 2001 and 2013, and was the first female mayor of the city. She is on the board of trustees for the Hawke's Bay Power Consumers Trust.
NZ Herald
8 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Local elections 2025: Rotorua rural ward councillor Karen Barker re-elected unopposed
'I'm very grateful I get the chance to serve again, because it's been a particularly enjoyable experience,' said Barker. 'I will take the opportunity to do the best I can, not just for rural people, but everybody and I am very much looking forward to it.' Barker said she was expecting to see more names trickle in before last Friday's nominations deadline. After nothing changed by Monday, she tentatively accepted her re-election. She hoped the lack of challengers was a show of 'confidence' from the rural community about her work. 'It can be a reflection of the kind of job you have done and how comfortable people are with what the council's been doing. So it's not all disengagement, sometimes there's potentially a level of comfort.' She also pointed to the six candidates running for four seats on Rotorua's Rural Community Board as a sign rural constituents were not apathetic about local politics. 'That is particularly encouraging,' she said. 'It shows that the rural people are engaged, and they want to have their say and they want to try and support me in my role.' Karen Barker was first elected in 2022. Photo / NZME Rotorua's rural ward was established after a drawn-out representation review concluded in April 2022. The Local Government Commission also instituted three Māori ward and six general ward seats. The rural ward covers an area with around 8000 residents including parts of the Ngongotahā Valley and Hamurana, Rerewhakaaitu, the Kaingaroa Forest, Lakes Rotomā and Rotoiti, Waiotapu, Reporoa, Mamaku and others within the Waikato portion of the Rotorua district. Barker highlighted rates affordability, community halls and rural subdivision rules as key issues in the ward for the next three years, as well as wider Rotorua projects such as water, sewerage, infrastructure investment and the museum. She said she was committed to still attending pre-election events to remain 'as engaged as possible'. There was a 'great choice' of candidates available across the other council wards, she said. Barker was congratulated by fellow councillors at Wednesday's Infrastructure and Environment Committee meeting, which she chairs. Don Paterson and Conan O'Brien both passed on their well wishes, while Robert Lee said she had 'conducted herself admirably' in her role. Mathew Nash is a Local Democracy Reporting journalist based at the Rotorua Daily Post. He has previously written for SunLive, been a regular contributor to RNZ and was a football reporter in the UK for eight years. – LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
