Plummeting participation in council elections ‘a threat to democracy'
But it's not those demographics that concern the former police officer: "After all, for a long time policing was relatively dominated by older white males as well, who make great officers."
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NZ Herald
a day ago
- NZ Herald
Kaipara Māori ward councillor Pera Paniora: District should get its say
Immediately after the Government signalled its August legislation change, Jepson said he wanted his council's Māori ward gone before the coming elections. KDC's single-term Te Moananui o Kaipara Māori ward will disappear at the local elections as a result of the council's August decision, without any poll. There will also be no vote in October on the presence of an electoral area of this type into the future. That's in contrast to Far North District Council, Whangārei District Council and Northland Regional Council, which in August decided to keep their Māori wards. But with that decision, communities will be asked what they think of the wards' continuing existence in polling at the October elections. Paniora said it was unfair KDC could abolish its Māori ward without having to poll its people, but councils with Māori wards were required to poll to keep them. Polling has traditionally resulted in Māori ward plans failing. Paniora said 2025 polling about the future of Māori wards should be only for those voters on the Māori roll, as was the case for those voting for Māori ward councillors. She is the only Māori ward councillor in New Zealand to lose her position at the end of this current term because the ward is being abolished. Paniora will stand again in the Wairoa general ward for the council elections. She said doing so offered two-for-one, where she would continue to represent Māori as part of doing so for the wider community. About 40% of the west Kaipara ward's population is Māori. Paniora said Māori ward councillors in Northland and around New Zealand should make sure their communities know the value of these electoral areas. And she said people should make sure to get out and vote. Paniora also encouraged more Māori to stand in Māori wards, as councillors in these wards were kaitiaki (guardians) of the positions. She said that even if incoming Kaipara councillors decided to reinstate a Māori ward, it would be 2031 before that could happen. Paniora wanted the ward continued in Kaipara, because democracy required councils to represent the demographics of all their people. However, she said she wouldn't have stood in the ward, even if it had remained. Paniora said it was valuable for those who won a seat via a Māori ward to do their time in that arena, but then move into general wards, to allow others the opportunity to stand in the Māori ward. She said her time in what would be KDC's one-term Māori ward had been challenging. Paniora said she was young, Māori and a woman, in contrast to others on the council who were older, Pākehā and male. Since the 2022 local elections, KDC has canned karakia (ritual chants, prayers) to open and close council meetings and ended its Māori relationship agreements and associated funding with local iwi. Paniora was elected to Te Maruata, Local Government New Zealand's (LGNZ) Māori elected politicians' group in 2022, but this position ended when KDC pulled out of LGNZ. She recently won a Te Maruata award for her contribution to Māori. Paniora said it was ironic that the ward she named was disappearing. ■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- RNZ News
UK plans to recognise Palestinian state in September unless Israel meets
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says Britain will recognise the state of Palestine in September unless Israel works to end the 'appalling situation' in Gaza. Photo: STEPHANIE LECOCQ / AFP Britain will recognise the state of Palestine in September unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the "appalling situation" in Gaza and meets other conditions, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told his cabinet, according to a government statement. "He said that the UK will recognise the state of Palestine in September, before UNGA (United Nations General Assembly), unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, reaches a ceasefire , makes clear there will be no annexation in the West Bank, and commits to a long-term peace process that delivers a Two State Solution," the statement said. "He reiterated that there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas and that our demands on Hamas remain, that they must release all the hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, accept that they will play no role in the government of Gaza, and disarm." Starmer took the decision after recalling his cabinet during the summer holidays on Tuesday (local time) to discuss a new proposed peace plan being worked on with other European leaders and how to deliver more humanitarian aid to Gaza. Successive British governments have said they will formally recognise a Palestinian state when the time is right, without ever setting a timetable or specifying the necessary conditions. With warnings people in Gaza are facing starvation, a growing numbers of lawmakers in Starmer's Labour Party have asking him to recognise a Palestinian state to put pressure on Israel. Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron said his country would formally recognise a Palestinian state during a UN meeting in September. Earlier this month, New Zealand joined 24 other countries in calling for an end to the war in Gaza, and criticising what they called the inhumane killing of Palestinians. - Reuters/RNZ
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- NZ Herald
Letters: Maybe the Government should reward us with butter for reporting on road cones
The Minister for Workplace Relations wants motorists to report situations where they believe too many road cones are being used. The problem is that, like her, they wouldn't have a clue why road cones are used and what determines the numbers of cones used on any particular roadworks site. Roadworks construction sites are among the most dangerous of all construction work sites and for that we can partly thank the wonderful driving skills and utmost patience of the average New Zealand driver. Cones are spaced at distances (that determines their numbers) so as to deny drivers (as far as possible) the urge to change lanes, overtake others or to perform U-turns within the worksite, in addition to that most annoying of all factors, of actually slowing our vehicles down. The minister might consider visiting and observing the behaviour and activities of a busy site. She might then leave roadworker safety to people who know what they are doing. Ron Halewood, Rothesay Bay. Power to the people It is fantastic to see in the Herald (July 28) the first of four reports on the state of the power supply in New Zealand. For those of us who follow such aspects of our country's performance, it has been obvious for some years that we have been heading into serious trouble. It is also indeed sad that the people who now struggle the most to pay their power bills are those also struggling to pay for other necessities. Steve Clerk, Meadowbank. Respect for Māori I was very pleased to read Winston Peters' thoughtful comments on the immigrants flooding into Europe (July 27). He was quite concerned that those immigrants didn't salute the flag or respect the people who were there before them. Perhaps it's time that he reminded his coalition partners that New Zealand was not an empty space when the Pākehā arrived. The world of the Māori needs to be honoured, too. Terry Lord, Mt Wellington. Laws of the land We all know by now that Winston Peters will say something that resonates but may not be followed up. But I totally agree when he says that we should be very careful with immigration and, in particular, allowing it to change the fabric of our society. It is not at all a racist statement in that if you wish to come here to live, then you should be totally prepared to integrate and adapt to the culture of this country. Exactly the same in reverse applies when a Kiwi decides to live abroad. You have to accept that country's laws and culture, whether you like it or not. Paul Beck, West Harbour. Looting and influencing Winston Peters says immigrants are changing the fabric of the First World. Similarly, the colonisers changed the fabric of the independent and self-sufficient countries they went into, without permission being granted to do si. They did not just loot all the taonga but influenced the culture, fashion etc. Tsk tsk. Nishi Fahmy, Avondale. The impact of GST It is very sad that in this food-producing country that people need to choose between being warm or eating. GST, introduced by Sir Roger Douglas during the fourth Labour Government, had its last rise enacted under the Key Government, from 12.5% to 15%, while the top personal tax rate was lowered. This hit those who already spent most of their earnings on essentials but when the present government altered the tax thresholds, those on the least income barely benefited. It seems beyond those in power to look ahead and realise that today's children are the workers of the future and we need them to be healthy and educated. Those who are barely surviving are more likely to be filling hospital beds or have insufficient skills to be useful. Removing GST on dairy products and fresh fruit and vegetables and perhaps bread or meat would be much easier than hoping some third grocery chain will come and provide competition. Is it too much to hope that politicians can look ahead and use common sense? It may even get them some votes in the next election. Phyl Belsham, Mt Albert.
