Esther and John Malcolm

This Sunday, September 14, “Tiriti Matters, Whakatane” will host a public meeting with panel presentations on the vote to keep Māori wards.

The public are invited to a discussion from 2-4pm at Eastbay REAP, 21 Pyne Street.

All are welcome to come with thoughts, questions and comments, and a plate if you would like to contribute to refreshments.

We hope all citizens receive their voting papers from September 9, have their say and complete and post or drop off their vote well before voting closes October 9.

Notable in the most recent Whakatane Beacon’s columns on keeping Māori wards are contributions from Judy Turner ex-mayor, and Keith Melville ex-reporter.

Ms Turner writes of the benefits she and colleagues have witnessed contributing to “the full scope of councils’ responsibilities.”

Mr Melville’s perspective memorialises the flawed history of “the liberal-democratic values won (he states) mainly in 19th Century England” and concludes with his hope for “a system embracing Māori and Pākehā with responsibilities to each other” as Te Tiriti envisioned.

In fact, as the Waitangi Tribunal documents time and time again and Common Grace recently summarise, prior to 1910 in 20th Century Aotearoa New Zealand, Māori could not vote for councils unless individual landowners; the voters for NZ Parliament were exclusively landowners untill 1879 and male until 1893.

With time alone without updates such as those Mr Melville provided, Aotearoa New Zealand’s history of what happened where, when and by whom often became historically misinformed mythology.

Pākehā could object and receive compensation for land taken under the Public Works Act, but not Māori for collectively owned Māori land until 1974.

The 1992 RMA act repealed by the current “coalition” introduced limited responsibilities on councils to consult iwi in decision-making.

In 1996, New Zealand had our first MMP national election with proportionate representation rather than the prior winner takes all horse-race, first past the post. By 2000 in New Zealand’s “liberal democracy” 2 percent of councillors were Māori, 20 of a thousand across the country.

In 2021, enabling legislation was passed that led to 35 councils establishing Māori wards in 2022 elections with resultant improved representation closer to population proportions, with local representation of both treaty partners: (repealed 2024).

Changing the rules of democracy to include all citizens is inclusive.

Māori, Urban and Rural wards are not special treatment but support equity and a just, fair and effective democracy.

Ensuring that all citizens are heard, including Māori, fosters a more inclusive society with seats and voices at the table.

Such councils can and do integrate perspectives in local decision-making, reflective of and responsive to the whole population.

Consultation on some issues can start and finish at the table. Māori, urban and rural wards share the tools, resources and support between Treaty partners enabling them all to fulfil their promise.

Māori wards support long-term thinking and care for people, whenua, and future generations.

They contribute to balanced views working towards cohesion and unity. They connect councils, communities and local Māori with outcomes of positive, practical impacts during emergencies and beyond.

As voters we echo Judy’s positive insights into the realities of Māori wards and the qualities they have been shown to bring.

The insights Keith Melville brings from reporting on Waitangi Tribunal hearings, the history presented, and contractual settlements breached since signing (which committed both parties to consultation) underpin many current inequities.

Māori wards align with and contribute to the shared goals for healing and building secure futures.

We encourage all to vote and to vote yes to keep our Whakatāne District Māori Wards. This Sunday’s public meeting at REAP, may address your questions concerns and give opportunities to korero together.