Jacoby Poulain: Maori voices need to be heard

Good Friday I spent half the day riding my bike along the Napier cycle paths along with visitors and locals enjoying Hawke's Bay's sunshine.

As if this wasn't good enough, it got even better on Saturday when I set sail on the sea aboard Te Matau a Maui, the double hulled sailing waka of Ngati Kahungunu. Both these experiences reignited my deep appreciation and respect for the elements and the beauty of our region.

On the waka we learned the traditional Maori whakapapa of the whenua, or heritage of the land.

This breathtaking experience solidified my belief that Maori have always had, and will always have, a special and significant part to play in the history and future of Ngati Kahungunu and Hawke's Bay.

I'd like to focus on this future here.

According to 2006 Census and local government statistics, 59,946 people or 12 per cent of the Maori population belong to Ngati Kahungunu. More than half of the iwi's population (61 per cent) is under the age of 30, reflecting the youthful nature of the Maori population in general which is predicted to grow by 20 per cent over the next 15 years. In the future, Maori will make up a larger proportion of the workforce, meaning that more young Maori will be in a position to influence and contribute positively to Hawke's Bay's and New Zealand's social and economic fabric. Why wait for the distant future, though?

Voting is a powerful instrument for social change and now is the time if you're Maori and enrolled to vote to make changes for the next general election, should you so wish.

You should have already received, or soon will, your personalised Maori Electoral Option pack in the mail.

It will give you the information you need to make your choice whether to be on the Maori or General Roll for the 2014 elections and beyond.

There are currently seven Maori electorates or areas in New Zealand.

If more Maori enrol on the Maori roll, it could mean more Maori electorate seats or MPs in Parliament.

The number of general electorate seats could also change.

This is an important choice, as it determines who will represent or tautoko you in Parliament, and who will not.

To vote is to tautoko. As the kaiwaiata or singers on a marae stand to sing in tautoko or support of the speaker, so is the action of voting a gesture of support for the speaker in the house or whare of Parliament.

To vote is to build the mana or ability of Maori.

If you don't vote for who you want, others will vote for who they want. Voting is easy, it's quick, it's important and it's powerful.

If all Maori voted it could change lives, communities and our nation.

There are few other rights more important in society than the right to vote - it's the basis of all other rights. Our tipuna or ancestors have fought and died for this country and the rights and responsibilities citizenship entails. As a result of their sacrifices, today we have the right to choose and elect representatives that best serve our future.

Maori roll or general roll? Personally, I'm super supportive and elated for Maori being on either roll. I have been on the Maori roll in the past, am currently on the general roll and considering whether to change. For further information or if you've missed your pack see www.elections.org.nz.

You will not be able to change roll types again until the next Maori Electoral Option which is likely every five years or so.

Jacoby Poulain is a Hastings District Council Flaxmere Ward councillor.