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The Council commenced hearing verbal submissions at
9.10am
9.10am Mike Bulter on behalf of
Hobson’s Pledge (submitter 211) reiterated his opposition to the
establishment of Māori
seats as already sufficient number of Māori participating on
Council’s committees in addition to the 2 elected Māori
councillors, provided a brief history of Māori seats and advised 293 of
the 311 responses to Hobson’s Pledge flyer were against Māori
seats.
9.23am Mark Cleary (sub #250) reiterated his strong
support for Māori constituencies for numerous compelling historical, democratic,
socioeconomic and environmental reasons, to guarantee key constitutional
rights as promised by the Treaty, and as a minor move toward tinorangatiritanga.
He then stepped through 4 historic acts of systematic subjugation, marginalisation,
disenfranchisement against and land theft from Kahungunu whanau and hapu
– which he believes would not have happened if Māori were at the
governing table.
9.31am Jenny Nelson-Smith (sub #269) on
behalf of the Waipukurau Marae as Chair reiterated support for the
establishment of Māori seats to afford those on the Māori roll the
same rights as nationally with Māori electorates – the ability to
vote for someone that truly represents them. Asking for transformative
change that will come with guaranteed Māori representation to ensure the
Māori view is properly considered in decision making. Māori view of
ownership is one of community (whanau or hapu). Need representatives that
understand the Māori world view and complexities of Māori society.
Population statistics are moot – the Treaty was a partnership agreement
between the Crown and the indigenous people (Māori) of Aotearoa. Hapu
will make this work.
9.45am Mat Mullany on behalf of Ngati Parau
Hapu Trust (sub #722) reiterated the Trust’s support for Māori
constituencies as one of many ways to work with Māori and encourage
participation in local government, to ensure guaranteed constitutional status
as per Te Tiriti, and be accountable to them. Trends show increasing number
of Māori on the Māori roll in HB and higher than national average. Of
the view that guaranteed proportional representation for Māori will be
as 2 of 9 total regional councillors to reflect the percentage on the Māori
roll. Urges Council to undertake a Tiriti audit to ensure obligations are
being met.
9.54am Christine Kidwell (sub #20) handed
around her unwritten submission - a piece of paper to demonstrate the clean
slate opportunity presented with the racist legislation (lines on one side of
the page) removed. Looks forward to a future when Māori and Pakeha
mokopuna will sit in unity as partners at the decision making table. Tangata
whenua are ready.
9.59am Kellie Jessup (sub #270) Māori
have waited too long for this history making Kaupapa, and lost a lot of
people along the way. The right for Māori to speak and kaitaikitanga in
true partnership to honour the Treaty
10.05am Heather Te Au – Skipworth (sub #832)
hundreds of tupuna packing the rafters, whakapapa always comes first and
politics second, uphold the Treaty. Disappointed the consultation literature
gave light to racist Hobson’s Pledge and quantified Māori by
providing population statistics about Māori. Status quo not an option
for Māori, promised mana oriti, equal rights & interests, by Te
Tiriti.
10.15am Dianne Smith on behalf of hapu from Mataweka
Marae in Waipawa via Zoom (sub #719) first thanked CHB rep Will Foley for his
social media updates. Reiterated wholehearted support for the establishment
of Māori constituencies following national direction to guarantee the
unique matauranga of Māori in decision making, create positive and
collaborative working partnerships.
10.22am Wi Derek Huata (sub #215) four parts to submission,
being part 1 by Moana Jackson, second what are Māori wards, thirdly
David Seymour of the Act Party and lastly Hobson’s pledge. Spoke about
racism, a deeply embedded ideology in NZ, colonisation and the
marginalisation of Māori, giving examples. When the 10 minute speaking
time had elapsed the Chair asked the submitter to stop speaking.
The meeting adjourned for morning tea at 10.35am and
reconvened at 11.05am
11.10am Thompson Ratima Hokianga (sub #378) Māori want what’s best for the
region and to protect their interests, knowledge, resources and practices
from being misappropriated and disrespected. Māori constituencies will
ensure robust decision making processes through relationships between
decision makers, hapu and marae – direct, long lasting relationships. Matauranga
Māori will benefit everyone.
11.20am Frederick Puriri (sub #850) supports Māori
constituencies as a way for Māori to share ancestral tikanga and Kaupapa
to contribute to making decisions about what happens to our wai, maunga,
whenua and moana. All things need balance.
Neil Kirton arrived at 11.27am
11.31am Karaitiana Wayne Aranui (sub #845) simple message
is “the time for change is now, because it is the right thing to do”
and Māori need
guaranteed representation at the Council table as a right, not as a favour. Asks
councillors to stand tall and make this honourable decision. Make decisions
that make everyone feel included and that inspire young people to aspire to
become leaders and run for Council.
11.37am Pat Magill on behalf of Napier Pilot City Trust
(sub #1000) reiterated support for Māori constituencies as Treaty based
democracy, to fix what’s not right. With the change of legislation
councillors are the only roadblock to having guaranteed Māori
representation and a step toward bringing everyone together for a better,
more human world. Identifying as Māori and representing Māori are
not the same. Māori constituencies as well as, not instead of,
committees.
11.47am Duane Culshaw on behalf of Wairoa District
Council Māori Standing Committee representing 37 marae (sub #925) support
having Māori at the decision making table, which should not replace any
current committee or partnership arrangements. Up to those on the Māori
roll to participate in the election process to ensure the candidate(s)
elected represent their issues.
11.50am Henare Mita (WDC Māori Standing Committee
Chair) on behalf of Kotahitanga Marae / Unity Hall (sub #648) reiterated wholehearted
support for Māori seats and that those should not replace current
committee or partnership arrangements HBRC has already. Have adequate
advisory Māori voices which would be enhanced by having Māori in
decision-making capacity. Wairoa District Council has never disagreed with a
recommendation made by their Māori Standing Committee that he can recall.
12.10pm Christina Stockman (sub #110) Kaiako for over 30
years, and encourages HBRC to establish Māori constituencies because if
it is good for Māori it is good for everyone. Wants a partnership to
reverse some of the environmental damage done and add strength to the vision
through Māori values and tikanga being at the decision making table.
12.23pm Paul Bailey (sub #344) supports the establishment
of Māori constituencies. Counter to the points raised by submitters in opposition,
separatism is already ingrained in the current system of constituencies split
by geographic area and it could be considered undemocratic to allow
non-resident ratepayers to vote when they already vote elsewhere. View that Māori
Committee should be retained. Have to rely on the collective wisdom of the
voters to elect the best person to represent them. Key benefit of Māori
constituencies would be getting more Māori involved in local government.
12.35pm Margaret Simeon (sub #210) 25th
generation of whanau to live in Tamatea and whakapapa to a long line of
chiefs. Supports Māori seats as a means of protecting the rights of Māori
and affirmative action that does not diminish anyone else’s rights. Partnership,
participation, protection.
12.45 Attempts to contact
Rana Huata, scheduled to speak at 12.50pm, were unsuccessful
The meeting adjourned at 12.50pm and reconvened at 2pm
2.00pm Jess Mio (sub #13) looking for
transformational constitutional change to a system of government that has
been forced onto Māori, to their detriment. Keep making positive steps
to change the systems.
2.10pm Elizabeth Gear (sub #743) Opposes Māori
wards as views it as divisive and racist and takes away the voting rights of
those on the General Roll.
2.20pm Ngapuoterangi Hohepa on behalf of
Waipuka Māori Reservation Trust (sub #633) his hapu, whanau and marae. Supports
Māori seats to uphold the promises made in Te Tiriti for partnership in
decision making. Māori have waited long enough.
2.30pm Des Ratima on behalf of Te Roopu
Kaitiaki o te Wai Māori (sub #1070) and Evelyn Ratima on behalf of the
Whakatu Action Group (sub #1074) Need unity and equality. People elected in Māori
constituencies would be chosen by and have the mandate to speak on behalf of Māori.
1835 Declaration of Independence for the Confederation of Tribes gave
way to Te Tiriti in 1840 – to move together in partnership, as one
people. WW1 Māori didn’t have rifles but instead buried the dead,
dug the trenches and supported the fight. WWII Māori “paid the
price of citizenship” and went to war to make a better future for their
people, but came home to nothing. The establishment of Māori seats is a
means of self determination for Māori as full partners because they
deserve it – it is about unification and it must happen.
3.00pm Tania Eden on behalf of Te Taiwhenua o
Te Whanganui ā Orutu (sub #826) to begin Hori Reti offered a mihi. Here
as Treaty partners and mandated iwi authority. Māori tired of fighting
and consulting and having to make submissions every time they want something.
Support Māori constituencies as a means of ensuring participation by Māori
in decision making and enrich the Council with the unapologetic voice of Māori.
Councillors need to stand up now and lead this. Opportunity to do more and do
better together.
The submissions made on behalf of Hinemihi Marae
(sub #94) and Te Hononga o Nga Awa Trust (sub #683) were not verbally
presented.
3.13pm Paora Sciascia (sub #364) here today
as a soldier; it is time for the difference that the Māori view
provides; it should have happened a long time ago as a partnership in
accordance with Te Tiriti and asking for this positive change now, without
further delay.
3.23pm Jacob Scott on behalf of Nga Aho Inc
(sub #1003). Important that local government meets the aspirations of Māori
as partners, working for the benefit of future generations at the decision
making table.
The meeting adjourned at 3.34pm and reconvened at 3.46pm
3.46pm Alice Saathof (sub #297) does not
support Māori constituencies as views it as eroding local democracy and
provides disproportionate representation to Māori, giving away the
rights of non-Māori, racist and elitist and an incremental process to
delivering power into the hands of Māori over other New Zealanders.
Supports a colour blind society, and one person one vote.
3.57pm Tania Huata (sub #707) introduced her
daughter Jessica and niece Larissa. Stresses the importance of having kanohi
ki te kanohi. Through her role on the Regional Planning Committee she has
seen the Council working to support Māori and supports Māori
constituencies to honour the partnership with Māori in accordance with
Te Tiriti
4.08pm Jenny Mauger on behalf of Ngā
Kaitiaki o Te Awa a Ngaruroro, Kahungunu ki Te Matau a Māui (sub #1107) Paintings
by Margaret Simeon were displayed on the table. The current autocracy and
HBRC has to lift its game. Iwi management plans have been hyper controlled or
ignored. Measure economies on wellbeing. Over 300 pieces of legislation
deliberately and strategically framed to extract land from Māori.
Cr Rick Barker left the meeting at 4.18pm
4.20pm Matt Edwards (sub #167) This issue
should be considered as an issue of principle. Difficult to understand the
abilities of candidates with such brief ‘CVs’. One truth comes
from the one god. Councillors represent all ratepayers. Opposed to setting up
separate Māori constituencies to elect representatives based on race and
views it as divisive. NZ going backwards because we’ve got away from
the truth. NZ history not relevant to this, instead look at World history.
Pieri Munro offered a karakia to close for the day.
The meeting adjourned at 4.30pm on Monday, 3 May 2021.
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