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THURSDAY JUNE 29, 2023
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JUNE 29, 2023
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New councillor elected…
Now for the mahi By Mary Anne Gill
Dale-Maree Morgan is under no illusion she has a lot of work ahead of her following her election to the vacant Māori ward seat on Waipā District Council. The result was confirmed earlier this week after only 13.11 per cent of the 2368 eligible voters returned their papers. Morgan secured 124 votes with Bill Harris second on 91, Gaylene Roberts with 77 and Barney Manaia 18. While Morgan was disappointed with the turnout, she was not surprised - saying it showed Māori engagement with local government needed some work. “We don’t see ourselves in council visually as well as (in) voices.” However, she praised the council for taking the step to establish a Māori ward saying it showed it was not afraid to share power for the betterment of all. And it followed on from several years of co-governance in Waipā, she said. There were other factors behind the poor return. People had told her they had not received their voting packs, even some who got them at last year’s local government election. The numbers on the Waipā Māori roll had also gone down by 50. Morgan says that shows a systemic
communication problem because Māori were on him. confused about what roll they were on, and “When you see a picture of my husband the wording was problematic for them. and you see the BFG, they’re the same,” she “These layers that can be detrimental to says. us as voters are, one we don’t see ourselves Morgan’s support of Three Waters is no visually and, two, we’ve not necessarily secret, as is her commitment to consultation had a voice for us in these spaces. We’ll start between the territorial authorities bordering disengaging when we can’t see how we can the Waikato River. “I take my hat off to Nanaia make a difference with our voices. That’s a (Mahuta) because there was no minister who common theme and a common response.” had a backbone or a uterus to take on such a It was a key point she was going to address huge subject.” with her people. “But Māori and Nanaia are looked at as “I say to them ‘This is the system you these iwi grabbing people for the water don’t always like. It isn’t a system I like at when actually we will not be taking the the moment but while we are still having infrastructure. It will still be owned by those decisions made for us in the system, we need who own it.” people in there’.” Collaboration around the table on issues like Morgan will be sworn in tomorrow at her Te Arawa Lakes and the Waikato River were first council meeting in Te Awamutu. By then “stunning” examples of co governance. she will also know whether she has been “(They) take the fear out of the propaganda successful in buying a property in the town machine that’s being perpetuated by the alt for her and partner Steve Hutt. They currently right and by those who choose not wanting to live in Ngāruawāhia. share power.” The two had a commitment ceremony in That refusal to share power was another Raglan eight years ago bringing their blended systemic problem which was a choice made by family of eight children together. Morgan, who those who felt they knew better, she said. !" #$%&'(')*"$+), -./0()1%2")3&%44)35%6")#7) turned 50 in January, is also a grandmother of Morgan works as a contractor at Te !" 89:;&&)<=2<)>)8?&&)$=7"), =0+".(=/0)? three – two in Australia and one in Turangi. Wānanga o Aotearoa@%ABC Apakura Campus in Te Hutt is an award-winning special effects’ Awamutu, one of “101 different places” she graphic designer for Wētā Workshop. His jokes she has worked at. That has helped her work includes Fist of the Condor, Black create a network of contacts. Panther and The Big Friendly Giant, modelled “I’m precious about my networks too
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and that is one of the attributes to take into council.” Her whānau has also been in Waipā for 26 generations. “So, we’re kind of solidified around here.” Morgan hopes to enlist the help of the other candidates on issues. “I’m pretty isolated, one Māori to 11 non Māori. I’ve got a lot of work to do because our seat has been empty for a while.” She has previously made her opposition to the proposed Paewira waste-to-energy plant in Te Awamutu known. Morgan is supportive of Ahu Ake – the 30year Waipā Community Spatial Plan – which the council has had a “good go” at getting consultation on with a wide spectre of the community. Her key priority though is communication, an irony not lost on her given the poor turnout. “That’s a fair call when you’re on limited resources,” she said. Hers included social media and an A5 pamphlet to secure 124 votes. Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan said she expected Morgan to be a strong voice at the decision-making table. “I think it’s particularly good to have a young, strong voice around the table. DaleMaree will bring a different perspective and I really welcome that. I very much look forward to working with her.”
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