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Kaipara’s vote focusses national contention u by Andy Bryenton
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The most controversial and contentious vote undertaken by the current administration of the Kaipara District Council saw hundreds of protestors, a vocal cadre of supporters and the eyes of the nation focussed on Mangawhai last week. The KDC is the first local government body to vote to disestablish Māori wards, following enabling legislation passed in parliament in late July. The extraordinary meeting made the top spot on the televised news, and inspired pages of debate in the press as far away as Otago. The KDC met behind police and private security guards, as protestors chanted and sang waiata just outside its meeting rooms, sometimes making it hard to hear the arguments put forward, for and against removing the Moananui o te Kaipara ward from the electoral process. “Personally, I have never believed in division by race and voting blocs by race,” said mayor Craig Jepson, in an impassioned statement before the vote. “We are elected to represent the various communities of our district without fear or favour.” The matter was further complicated by news that Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua had filed proceedings with the High Court. The iwi organisation is seeking a judicial review, and warned before the meeting that an injunction would be filed if the vote proceeded. The council sought legal advice with very little time before the meeting began, and were told that there was no legal impediment to the vote going ahead. Councillor Pera Paniora indicated that the legal question involved section 81 of
p Police and private security guards separated a vocal but peaceful protest from council deliberations on the contentious disestablishment of the Kaipara Māori ward
the Local Government Act, and hinges on a lack of consultation with local iwi and hapū groups ahead of the controversial vote. The cost for deliberating this point of law in the High Court could be in the tens of thousands of dollars, a significant cost to ratepayers, she noted. “Would it not be cheaper for the council to stop now?” councillor Paniora said, as an amendment was proposed to halt proceedings and consult with iwi. “As I understand it, High Court proceedings are afoot, but will be withdrawn if iwi are consulted before this decision is made.” The theme of listening to the public, and engaging with their wishes, was strong
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among the seven speakers who preceded the debate on the vote. Reno Skipper of Te Uri o Hau implored the mayor to sit down and talk with his Māori constituents, and reach a common ground. “This is not unity. This is dividing our people,” he said. Wero Te Kino spoke on the toxic legacy of racism, and how mutual respect was necessary. “If you decide to take away our Māori ward seat, you are showing disdain to all tangata whenua in Kaipara,” he said. A counter-argument was posited by representatives of the Democracy
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