Dismay over Māori ward referendum policy

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Former Gisborne district councillor Meredith Akuhata-Brown says the National-led Government’s referendum policy on Māori wards shows it “panders to the few that don’t really like Māori”.

The new policy restores the right to hold referendum on the establishment or ongoing use of Māori wards brought in without a referendum.

That would result in such a referendum in Gisborne at the next local body elections in 2025.

Ms Akuhata-Brown said she had served in local government which had debated the merits of having representatives “that look like the community they served”.

“I was proud of our region’s decision to establish the Māori wards.

“Whether people like it or not politics hasn’t been an open door for Māori because it wasn’t created with Māori in mind.

“When I was elected, only about 4 percent of elected representatives were Māori.

“It then moved to around 10 percent.

“Out of the 20 (or more) woman mayors elected, one was Māori, which says it all really.

“Now it’s 2023 and we are still debating Māori in governance.”

The former councillor said she had waited with “bated breath” to see what policies would be introduced by the new government.

The country needed a government to prioritise infrastructure investments, land use and resources — not race relation politics.

“Referendums for decisions like Māori wards are a waste of ratepayers’ money especially when the ongoing impacts of climate events are affecting our environment and infrastructure and causing suffering to many. This is our new normal.

“I have a dream that I will one day live in a nation where I will not be judged by my Māori heritage but by the content of my character.”