Horowhenua District Council votes against making Treaty bill submission in 6-6 tie

Horowhenua's councillors were divided over whether they should make a submission to the Government's bill to make changes to the Treaty of Waitangi.

The Horowhenua District Council have decided not to make a submission opposing the Treaty Principles Bill – though it was a split decision.

The bill wants new interpretations of Te Tiriti o Waitangi to replace principles that grew out of 50 years of Treaty debate and court cases.

A motion to make a submission on the bill was moved by Māori ward councillor Justin Tamihana, while Māori ward councillor Nina Hori Te Pa seconded it.

There was a mix of opinions around the council table, ending in a tied vote of 6-6 meaning the motion was not passed.

Introducing the motion, Tamihana said his fellow councillors should consider what the Treaty means to the council and the community, and what would happen if the bill was passed.

“The bill currently seeks to undermine every New Zealander – not just Māori.”

He said he believed the bill went against every act in the country – including the Bill of Rights, local government Acts, oaths and swearing ceremonies.

Māori ward councillor Justin Tamihana moved the motion to make a submission to the Government about the bill.

He described the treaty as the “foundation of our country” and said the council should join other councils, such as Stratford, Hutt and Porirua, which have already agreed to make submissions opposing the bill.

Mayor Bernie Wanden said he felt the motion to make a submission was an ideological and political issue and had no place in local government.

“I’m a little annoyed and frustrated that we are discussing this,” Wanden said.

He said the bill represented “probably 10% of voters across the country”.

“By us feeding into this argument, we are only giving it more oxygen.”

The Horowhenua community had bigger things to worry about, he said, such as getting more young people into jobs.

Horowhenua Mayor Bernie Wanden was against making a submission.

For councillor Paul Olsen, the lack of community engagement around the bill was an issue.

He felt the community had not been consulted on it, and so councillors couldn’t know if a submission was wanted by the community.

Councillor Mike Barker said he had no interest in debating the issue as he felt the council table wasn’t the place for it.

If the submission were to go ahead, he wanted it to be clear he was not involved in it, he said.

“If this motion were to pass, I would insist on a disclaimer that makes it quite plain that any submission doesn’t include me.”

Councillor Rogan Boyle was in favour of making a submission and said he was surprised some of his fellow councillors were opposed.

“I think it’s pretty hilarious the level of opposition that’s being put out to this, given how often we submit on a number of things that I’ve not agreed with personally, or thought were relevant to our district. This is a big issue, and we should be supporting this motion.”

When the vote came in as a tie, Tamihana said he thought the result might have been different a few weeks earlier, before Piri-Hira Tukapua had resigned from her role as a councillor. His final comment implied he believed she would have voted in favour of the council making a submission.

“Aren’t you lucky Piri-Hira’s not here?”

The elected members who voted against making a submission were Mike Barker, Ross Brannigan, Sam Jennings, Paul Olsen, Alan Young and mayor Bernie Wanden.

The Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill was introduced on November 7 and is currently before the justice committee for public submissions, which close on January 7. Submissions can be made online through a portal on the Parliament website or by post.