Tuesday 29 May 2018

Is New Zealand as “racist as f**k”, as movie director Taika Waititi said last month


I wonder if Hobson's Pledge will speak out about this latest episode of Racism in Action? This report from Radio NZ says it all... 

We here in NZ pride ourselves in regard to racial harmony, but should we? For it seems very much as if we have a deep seated cover-up attitude to the subject, the very mention of 'positive' discrimination seems to sent a shiver down the spine. Why is this? and what can we do to change the inbuilt bigoted blight that represents our some times shocking behaviour.

Using a real case report from the wonderful Radio NZ team relating to the shocking behaviour that was used in the case of Vuyiswa Tulelo the South African High Commissioner to New Zealand treatment really is a wake up call for all of us as we ponder the 'One Law for all' pushed by Right-wing nut cases here in NZ. The following is from Radio NZ:



"A self-described “black woman” and mother of two started popping into a Wellington Countdown supermarket earlier this year and soon noticed she was being followed.
Each time, a security guard would track her as she did her shopping.
“Every day he follows me! Every day without fail. What would be the reason for that?” asks Vuyiswa Tulelo, who arrived in New Zealand from South Africa in February.
Is it a sign that New Zealand is “racist as f**k”, as movie director Taika Waititi said last month?
Because Ms Tulelo, as well as being a supermarket addict, is her Excellency the South African High Commissioner to New Zealand, and she thinks Waititi has a point.

To security I am every other black woman. He sees a black woman. What does he think? He thinks there is going to be theft!”
Ms Tulelo’s blunt appraisal of how she has been treated are not exactly diplomatic.
“This is a real life experience that I am sharing, my experience in the three months that I have been in New Zealand.”

Countdown managers have since spoken to the guard and, when RNZ approached the company, it apologised to Ms Tulelo and offered to meet with her. However she’s not the only African community leader to experience what they call ‘racial profiling’ in this country. And they say it goes deeper than the odd security guard.

“I know what it’s like to be followed in shops. It happens. I regularly get pulled over by the police. Their excuse is that it’s just a random check,” says Guled Mire.
Guled Mire is an activist and community leader. He was six when he arrived in New Zealand in the 1990s with his mother, a solo-parent who fled the strife of Somalia’s civil war with her nine children.
“My mother is a strong black Muslim woman.”
But Hamilton was not a ‘safe’ place to grow up. Guled remembers being chased by skinheads, being shouted at to “Go home!”

He was actively discouraged from higher education at high school and dropped out aged 16. But he persevered, excelled at university, and is now a policy advisor in the public sector.
He’s MC at several events celebrating Africa Day in Wellington when I meet with him, and he says the racial profiling extends even to the police force.

“I know police culture doesn’t change overnight, it’s a systematic thing. Not just the police, institutionalised racism everywhere. I agree with Taika Waititi. New Zealand is racist as f**k!”

For these community leaders the problem stems from a stubborn strain of racism in this country, something Labour's Mt Roskill MP Michael Wood says is all too real.
“You only have to look at our arrest rates, rates of conviction and the differentials of people with different coloured skin. We can’t accept that. Any racism in New Zealand is not good enough.”

Tulelo says there is “absolutely” racial profiling by the New Zealand police.
“It is how we are socialised. It is because we are not having those [hard] conversations to say what is it that gives a police or law enforcement officer the thinking that a person with darker skin shade is therefore a problem?”

“The issue that we should talk about is; ‘What does a ‘shop lifter’ look like? If we don’t have those conversations, then we don’t change those narratives.”
Police behaviour is meant to be changing. In 2015 Police Commissioner Mike Bush admitted to “unconscious bias” in the force and promised training for all officers.

Then in 2016 Guled and other young leaders formed the African Youth Forum and their research led to a report highlighting issues around police encounters with African youth.
But Guled is not happy about the progress since 2016. “We’ve had a little bit of willingness to engage with us from police at a very high level but behind that there is still an unwillingness to engage with marginalised, disenfranchised youth.”

Assistant Police Commissioner Wally Hamaha disagrees.
“A lot of the complaints that were being made at the time, who felt that they were being targeted because of their race, the colour of their skin. We’ve done some significant work over the years in training our staff to be more culturally aware.”
“The organisation is not institutionally racist. It falls back on people who have their own views of the world. Whether they bring that bias into the organisation that’s not the overall view of the organisation.”
Guled doesn’t buy the theory about individual bias.
Guled Mire discusses racism at the Social Change Collective event in Wellington.
Guled Mire discusses racism at the Social Change Collective event in Wellington. Photo: RNZ Lynda Chanwai-Earle
“For me I believe there are many good cops out there. The cops say it’s the rotten apple theory, but for me it’s a ‘rotten barrel theory’. You have a rotten barrel which is the institution, you put the fresh apples in there which is the good cops, and of course they’ll go rotten, eventually. It’s a culture.”
Dr Camille Nakhid, Associate Professor of the School of Social Sciences at Auckland University of Technology led the research team behind the 2016 report and says the police have done little since except “save face”. She shared her concerns with Mike Bush in April, who replied saying police had stepped up their engagement with African, Maori and Pacific people.

Rather than reassure her, his comments raised red flags. She fears what the police say is greater engagement amounts to “over-policing”, where communities appear more prominently in crime statistics because they are policed more heavily.
Living with racism, guest speaker Guled Mire at Social Change Collective event, Wellington
“If the police cannot be cognisant of the high incarceration rates for Maori, Pacific as opposed to Pakeha, or the type of sentencing Pakeha would get as opposed to Maori, Pacific, African people – if the police cannot see the difference – then the police have no right, they are incapable of being guardians of society.”

Guled is continuing to talk to individual officers and welcomes Wood’s words, but says they’ll be holding the government accountable for making real change in combating institutionalised racism. “Actions speak louder than words.”
Living with racism, guest speaker Guled Mire at Social Change Collective event, Wellington Photo: RNZ Lynda Chanwai-Earle
Reference:
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/voices/audio/2018646720/nothing-unconscious-about-racial-profiling  

 

Friday 25 May 2018

The Week that was, the good the bad and the ugly.

Thank God these two have left the scene.
Wheelers Corner NZ 22 26th May 2018.

When your computer falls over, it was suggested to me, that it's a little like losing an arm or a leg...and I must agree with that view.
Why, because it happened to me. For a whole week I was out of action and forced to go the library each day to check my emails.

Not that the news was all that important, a week of a ginger haired prince getting wed seemed to occupy the MSM absolute preoccupation with trivia.

We also had the news that New Zealand's racist bunch of settlers had their predictable victory over the democratically elected representatives who sit around our council tables. Oh dear me in the words of the really old Donald Esslemont 'All those bloody Maori[s], Donald always incorrectly adds an 's'

Donald Trump, Kim Jong-un
Donald Trump, Kim Jong-un
US President Donald Trump has cancelled a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, saying the world had "lost a great opportunity for lasting peace"
He said his decision was because of "tremendous anger and open hostility" in a recent North Korean statement.
The summit aimed to rid the Korean peninsula of nuclear weapons and would have been the first time a sitting US president met a North Korean leader.
But both sides recently cast doubt on whether the talks would happen.
Mr Trump's announcement came just hours after North Korea said it had dismantled tunnels at its only nuclear test site in a move witnessed by foreign reporters.
Mr Trump said he had been looking forward to the now-cancelled summit in Singapore on 12 June.
"I was very much looking forward to being there with you. Sadly, based on the tremendous anger and open hostility displayed in your most recent statement, I feel it is inappropriate, at this time, to have the long-planned meeting," Mr Trump said in a letter to Mr Kim.
"You talk about your nuclear capabilities, but ours are so massive and powerful that I pray to God they will never have to be used," he added.
But he called the meeting a "missed opportunity", saying "someday, I look very much forward to meeting you".
In a later statement at the White House, Mr Trump said the step was a "tremendous setback for North Korea and the world", adding the US military was "ready if necessary" to respond to any "reckless" act from North Korea.
Mr Trump was apparently responding to statements from North Korea attacking his administration and casting doubt over the meeting.
Earlier on Thursday, North Korean official Choe Son-hui dismissed remarks by US Vice-President Mike Pence - who had said North Korea "may end like Libya" - as "stupid".
Ms Choe, who has been involved in several diplomatic interactions with the US over the past decade, said the North would not "beg" for dialogue and warned of a "nuclear showdown" if diplomacy failed.
A White House official quoted by Reuters described the comments about Mr Pence as the "last straw". They stressed, however, there was a "backdoor that's open still".
References to Libya have angered North Korea. There, former leader Colonel Gaddafi gave up his nuclear programme only for him to be killed by Western-backed rebels a few years later.

What's the reaction been?

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said "I am very perplexed and it is very regrettable that the North Korea-US summit will not be held", the Yonhap agency reported.
This year has seen improving ties between North and South Korea, with the leaders of both holding a summit just last month.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the US and North Korea should not give up, saying "nerves of steel" were required.
In the US, Republican Senator Tom Cotton praised President Trump for "seeing through Kim Jong-un's fraud". But Democratic Senator Brian Schatz said the move was what happened "when amateurs are combined with warmongers". https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/world/358162/trump-pulls-out-of-north-korea-summit-cites-tremendous-anger

Where have all our newspaper gone? 

The news media in our neck of the woods is under going great change, our local paper the Manawatu Standard has gone from being a proper newspaper into a tabloid sized mini and at the same time our once free giveaway the Tribune publishes its latest edition on the 30th of May 2018.
Do you still have a newspaper in your neck of the woods? The Auckland Herald has become nothing more than a National party rag, and Stuff is so busy laying off staff that shortly it will be regulated to the web only. 

Sorry for being late with this item:
Market rents for those in Council flats? 
Kiaora Kotou Katoatoa 

To the Mayor Grant Smith and the Councillors 

This email is to inform you all out of courtesy our intention and making... standing for the rights of our vulnerable pensioners, disabilities, Maori, Pasifika and Migrants in terms of 'Market Rate' submission. 

You are welcome to join us if you can on Saturday 26th of May. We will be pitching a tent/s in the square (grass area only) facing Fitzherbert Ave next the lights from 9am - 1pm out before 2pm. 

The message is simple...Say NO to market rate... we hope you (Councillors) consider the followings below for food for thoughts. 
1. Opportunity for clear calculating reasoning when petrol and food are going up.
2. Hear the vulnerable people there stories... 
3. 'Vibrant City' challenge to find that balance in your heart.  

Solution: Maybe look into case by case scenario. Not everyone fits one shoe. 

We wish you well Councillors on Monday meeting.   

To the Community sorry for the short notice, please pass the word and look forward to your support so I can tell my grandma the good news. 

Note: I (Maruna Engu) take full responsibilities for the tent/s on The Square grounds only.

Regards 

Maruna Engu 
Director 

Thursday 24 May 2018

If Horowhenua had a Maori Ward just maybe Justice would be possible.

Phil Taueki continues struggle to clean up lake4.


This is a message from the latest episode in the destruction of Levin's Lake Horowhenua

Because I've been off line for a week this bit of startling info simply proves yet again that the law works differently for Maori...Here is a clear and precise example of might vs right. I've included in full the info about those involved in what can only be a cover-up of the highest order...Even Don and his pals must feel ashamed...


From: Anne Hunt [mailto:annehunt@inspire.net.nz]
Sent: Thursday, 24 May 2018 7:54 AM
To: 'Bruce.gordon@horizons.govt.nz' <Bruce.gordon@horizons.govt.nz>; 'steph@farmside.co.nz' <steph@farmside.co.nz>; 'Colleen Sheldon' <colleensheldon@xtra.co.nz>; 'david@tasmantrust.co.nz' <david@tasmantrust.co.nz>; 'woodchester@xtra.co.nz' <woodchester@xtra.co.nz>; 'jjbarrow@hotmail.com' <jjbarrow@hotmail.com>; 'Lindsay Burnell' <l.burnell@xtra.co.nz>; 'nicola.patrick@horizons.govt.nz' <nicola.patrick@horizons.govt.nz>; 'pat.kelly@xtra.co.nz' <pat.kelly@xtra.co.nz>; 'paul@rieger.co.nz' <paul@rieger.co.nz>; 'rachel4horizons@gmail.com' <rachel4horizons@gmail.com>; 'wiremu.k.teaweawe@gmail.com' <wiremu.k.teaweawe@gmail.com>; Phil Taueki (philtaueki@gmail.com) <philtaueki@gmail.com>; 'JenJools' <jenjools@xtra.co.nz>; Mike Joy (m.k.joy@massey.ac.nz) <m.k.joy@massey.ac.nz>; 'Bill Chisholm' <bill@chisholm.co.nz>; 'Mike Smith' <wecare4water@gmail.com>
Subject: Trespass notices..
Importance: High

As promised, I have sent Police Superintendent Haumaha a copy of the letter that Phil Taueki circulated to those of you present at yesterday’s meeting and informed him of the trespass notices.
He is also aware that duplicates together with the address for service will be delivered to the Levin police station as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, HDC’s deliberations commenced at 12 noon, and HDC did not debate their plans to apply for a resource consent to continue discharging Levin’s stormwater into the privately-owned Lake Horowhenua until 6pm. Mr Taueki and I are to be thanked for our submission. So much for consultation with iwi.
This contamination is justified because it is supported by the Accord partners including Horizons, and funded by the Minister for the Environment.
However, the decision to trespass Horizons from the Lake is based on the untenable position left to the owners who heard Shannon Johnston, your lawyer, ambush Linda Thornton with s18(10) of ROLD 1956.
Those of us conversant with Dr Paul Hamer’s research for the Waitangi Tribunal know that this provision was put in place to ensure that the Catchment Board did not adjust the water levels to appease the farmers upset whenever their swamp land flooded. We were gutted to see the law yet again turned against the owners to enable to do what they please on ancestral estate in defiance of the Crown’s Treaty obligations.
To see this clause hijacked to give Horizons carte blanche to do what they wanted, sickened all of us present.
Also we are aware that it was Vivienne Taueki and Charles Rudd who were forced to contact the authorities to prevent the destruction of a midden; not the person supposed to be doing this work who was not on site.

But of course, you are both the applicant and the regulatory authority so you can do what you please.
Even pour tonnes of concrete on the bed of a lake which is the site of the great Mua-Upoko massacre when Ngati Toa armed with muskets slaughtered innocent women and children!
This is desecration. This is dereliction of your duty to the Crown’s Treaty partners whose names are on your wall
So yes, there is anger and frustration at local government, as announced by Hon Kelvin Davis.
Judging from the anger and frustration of the owners emerging from court last week, that hostility is likely to ignite a call for people to come from all over New Zealand to support Phil Taueki. He can then authorise them to use reasonable force to remove any person who comes onto this privately-owned property to damage this culturally-sensitive site where so much blood was spilt that the waters ran red, and seagulls came inshore to peck on the carcases.
You have brought this on yourselves.

By the way, I failed to make it clear yesterday that your racist hydrologist had testified in court that he had not sworn at Phil Taueki when Phil had challenged the unwashed boats being launched on the lake in 2008. And then Steve Winter played the tape recording of his 111 call. “Black bastard” and fucking wanker” is what he said.
How do you think Phil felt when he was discharged from hospital to discover he was being accused of setting fire to the Horizons depot in Bruce Road?
Fortunately, we managed to get the Fire Incident report showing that Horizons was putting the lives of firefighters at risk, because not even the Fire Service knew there was 1080 on site – several hours later!
The sole reason I chose to present a submission to Horizons is to prove that you are no longer going to get away with your character assassination, and that even if you choose to give me the silent treatment, I don’t care.
As a former journalist, a former councillor and an author, I know how to get my message out there.

Due to Crown Law’s determination to retry Phil on a charge of trespass despite his acquittal, we have some exceptional advice on the law of trespass as it relates in particular to the Lake.
Due to David Brown’s arrogance when it comes to the right of Pakeha to infest the lake with infectious weeds, we have a Supreme Court judgement on Phil’s right to use reasonable force to remove people warned off.
Due to a police officer’s belief that he did not need to obtain a permit to arrange a regatta with motorised boating, we have a judgement from Justice Kos (now President of the Court of Appeal) that Phil is entitled to object “vociferously”.
Due to Phil’s arrest that was featured on Kaitiaki Wars, we have a legal opinion obtained by the Area Commander Pat Handcock that Phil is entitled to park his vehicle on his own land as a peaceful protest.
Need I go on?
Suffice it to say, we have video footage to confirm what Phil said and that trespass notices were served on those elected members attending yesterday’s meeting, the CE and Jon Roygard.
We knew you would play the beleaguered party, and therefore we took the precautions necessary to protect Phil from any more allegations by your security guards and your staff.
We will make sure that we have people in position strong enough to remove your security guards.
No longer will it be your security guards ordering owners off their own land, as it has been in the past.
I am sick of hearing Horizons claiming that they are worried about the safety of their staff.
It is about time that the elected members started doing what they are paid to do, and consult with those with the mana rather than the kupapa.
Once you start doing that, you might find that the lake is cleaned up on not time at all.

Cheers
Anne Hunt

From: Philip Taueki [mailto:philtaueki@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, 23 May 2018 9:25 PM
To: annehunt@inspire.co.nz; Bryan <tenhave_bryan@yahoo.co.nz>; vivienne taueki <vivienne.taueki@xtra.co.nz>; Leo Watson <leo@leowatson.co.nz>; Linda Thornton <Linda@lyallthornton.com>
Subject: Fwd: Google Alert - philip taueki

fyi....press report on Hui at Horizons


To download Anne Hunt's latest book, "Man of CONVICTIONS" go to www.annehunt.co.nz

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Google Alerts <googlealerts-noreply@google.com>
Date: 23 May 2018 at 20:19
Subject: Google Alert - philip taueki
To: philtaueki@gmail.com

Image removed by sender. Google


philip taueki
Daily update 23 May 2018


NEWS


Stuff.co.nz
Philip Taueki gave an impassioned submission to Horizons Regional Council's Long Term Plan hearing on Wednesday about the state of Lake ...
Image removed by sender. Google Plus
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Image removed by sender. Twitter

Wednesday 16 May 2018

Walkout on Māori greeting betrays prejudice, and ignorance

To prove that Wheelers Corner report: http://wheelerscornernz.blogspot.co.nz/2018/05/living-for-future-rather-than-dying-for.html

was factual read the Manawatu Standards review of the shocking behaviour at the MUSA meeting last week:  

Walkout on Māori greeting betrays prejudice, and ignorance in New Zealand culture

Don Esslemont makes an argument against Māori wards on local councils at a forum at Massey University. He wouldn't stay ...
DAVID UNWIN/STUFF
Don Esslemont makes an argument against Māori wards on local councils at a forum at Massey University. He wouldn't stay in the room to hear a mihi (Māori greeting).
OPINION: The forum on Māori wards at Massey University last week provided an opportunity for students and staff to hear from both sides.
The speakers for the establishment of Māori wards were Wiremu Te Awe Awe and Teanau Tuiono, while Don Esslemont and Mike Butler spoke against it.
Prior to the commencement of the debate, Esslemont, the organiser of the campaign to overthrow the Palmerston North City Council's decision to establish Māori wards, walked out of the MUSA student lounge because he refused to listen to a mihi – a short welcome in te reo Māori that lasted for less than 30 seconds.
He stood on the other side of the glass doors until the mihi was finished and then returned to take his seat.
READ MORE:
Full house at Massey University for Māori wards forum

Esslemont didn't leave the room to take a phone call or for any other reason – he had told the staff member who welcomed everyone that he wasn't going to listen to a mihi or anything else in te reo Māori. This was relayed to the audience.
Esslemont confirmed his exit was an intentional act when he was challenged by Wiremu Te Awe Awe during the debate. Esslemont said the proposal for Māori wards was "evil".
In response, Te Awe Awe said Esslemont's action of leaving the room to avoid listening to a mihi in te reo Māori was racist.
A colleague said to me, "Would he [Esslemont] do the same if he were in Japan and someone spoke Japanese?"
I doubt he would exit.

Yes, he had every right to walk out of the MUSA student lounge – everyone has freedom of movement. But what did his action signify?
Nonverbal actions communicate information to others, whether the message is intentional or not. Esslemont's action gave an insight into his thinking and prejudices. Esslemont doesn't want a Māori voice at the council table. He doesn't want to hear a Māori voice, period.
The same applies to his Hobson's Pledge mate, Don Brash, who dislikes journalists "spouting on" in te reo Māori. It's not surprising that Hobson's Pledge funded the bulk of Esslemont's campaign in Palmerston North, which was revealed at the forum to have cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Esslemont is a former academic staff member at Massey University – he was a lecturer in a school that merged with mine. It makes me wonder how he treated his Māori students. Did he leave the room when they said "kia ora!"?
For the sake of Māori students and the one Māori academic (yours truly) out of approximately 50 academic staff in my school, I'm glad he is long-retired.
The Massey University Strategy (2018-2022) proudly states that the university is "Tiriti-led" and "it will demonstrate informed practices consistent with tikanga Māori and will embrace kaupapa Māori across our activities". Sorry, Don: the mihi is staying.
Māori cultural practices are embedded in our university and are an important part of who we are. This is Aotearoa New Zealand – the home of te reo Māori.
Esslemont said in the debate that he is an immigrant to this country. If Esslemont doesn't want to hear our beautiful Māori language, perhaps he should walk further than out the door and consider a one-way ticket back to his country of origin.
Mā te wā, Don.
* Dr Steve Elers is a lecturer in the School of Communication, Journalism and Marketing at Massey University. He is currently writing a book about Pākehā culture and communication.
 - Stuff

Friday 11 May 2018

Living for the future rather than dying for the past.


Wheeler’s Corner
“Connecting Citizens Who Care“. Every Monday at 4 pm on Access Manawatu 999AM” Join Peter’s blog http://wheelerscornernz.blogspot.com/  


21: 13th May 2018

 1. If you want something you’ve never had, then you’ve got to do something you’ve never done. Voltaire.

This self-proclaimed so-called academic had the audacity to get up from his place as a guest debater and depart the scene because he did not want to listen to the introduction that was to be presented in Te Reo Māori.

It was the rudest and most ignorant behaviour I have ever witnessed by a grown up adult so-called educated person. [If my child had acted like that I would have cancelled his pocket money]

This is the very same person who believes that NO Māori actually exists, who believes that there should be no Māori seats in our Parliament. So the very thought that a massive majority of Palmerston North City Councillors’ and Manawatu District Councillors’ could vote to introduce a Māori ward just makes him see red!

He reinforced his strange, weird even outdated beliefs when he stated and I quote:

“Others may call me racist… and I don’t mind that, I know I’m not racist… because I married a part-Chinese…” he said during his explanation [yet again] of his so-called historical background.

He also said,

“That a poll had been taken of Palmerston North people and that they do not support Māori Wards, the poll was taken for The NZ Center for Political Research, read below regarding the history of Mike Butler and that organisation.  

Not that, those meaningless bits of information added to the reasons why he supported race based behaviours in keeping Maori from the council table via a Māori Ward: the democratic process that could be used by local government, after all when all the political parties in NZ, including NZ First support the Māori electorates why not do the same for local government? What the hell are they scared of…your guess is as good as mine.

Hobson’s Pledge that great bunch of ex-political has-beens were willing to pay yet more money to fly to Palmerston North their show pony [Casey Costello] from Auckland for an hour and a half meeting adding yet more money to the thousands [if not hundreds of thousands] they have already spent nationally;

Fortunately for us fog kept her grounded in Auckland, but unfortunately she was replaced by yet another has- been who they drafted in from Hastings or some such distant place. That’s the thing about Hobsons Pledge its membership here in PN seems to consist solely of one person: They don’t seem to want to speak out, they didn’t turn up to push their case at the various council hearings on the issue. Their advertising has all been authorised by strange people from Auckland and Hastings.  

Below is the Manawatu Standards report on the Massey event.

Replacement Mike Butler is/was rather a strange kettle of fish: And every word he uttered proved this to be true: to get a Māori view of him. Go to:

To get Mike Butler’s view of himself check out the NZ Centre for Political Research: https://www.nzcpr.com/author/mike-butler/

2. I met some wonderful people at the Massey Forum on Māori Wards it was an honour to listen to the speakers for and against, I must admit there were only three who spoke out against and two of them were at the top table [Esslemont and Butler].

I am white, and I felt really proud of the fact that the bulk of those present were willing to listen and to learn what Māori felt about the issue. Especially because the issue in reality only affects those  who have freely under our legal system enrolled on the Māori roll.

Those speaking for Māori Wards seemed to accept that sharing is more progressive than progressing down the same old path which has led to the imbalance in our social statistics. 

They, judging by their comments during question time, seemed to have reached the point of comprehending that together around the table is better and more progressive than treating Māori as simply guests to be invited from time to time according to the whims of the majority. 

After all we formally do this to suit our rural voters to ensure that the urbanites don’t swamp their voices.

I accept that those who came before me have via our legal processes over time developed a workable political process [the Waitangi Tribunal] that means sharing our combined wealth as a nation via our parliamentary and local government processes.

The key for me is the word ‘Together’ we the majority cannot and must not tell the minority what is best for them. This issue is not a race issue; together around the table is what the treaty that gave birth to our nation is all about…we decided that Māori representation is both fair and just in our society and we practice it in our national elections. Lets do the same in our cities and regions.

If Māori decide to move onto the general roll, so be it, but it should be Māori that make that choice. If you think along these lines, then you should be happy to support Māori Wards in local government.
I hope you will. I have already voted accordingly

If you want something you’ve never had, then you’ve got to do something you’ve never done. Voltaire.

Peter J Wheeler






Tuesday 8 May 2018

Conflict of interest hits headlines in Horowhenua again.



"We will and do consider matters carefully, where they fall within our mandate, as is the case for the questions raised over the pensioner housing sale and potential conflicts of interest,"

This from Scoop Media:
Auditor General considering potential Horowhenua District Council conflicts of interest
Tuesday, 8 May 2018, 11:42 am
 
Article: Veronica Harrod
“The Office of the Auditor General is considering matters raised by members of the public relating to the sale by Horowhenua District Council of its pensioner housing portfolio and "related potential conflicts of interest."
In a letter to former Councillor Anne Hunt, the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) stated, "We are still considering matters you, and others, raised in relation to the sale of pensioner housing, and related potential conflicts of interest. We expect to reach a view on these matters in the near future."
"We will and do consider matters carefully, where they fall within our mandate, as is the case for the questions raised over the pensioner housing sale and potential conflicts of interest," the OAG told Mrs Hunt.
An Audit NZ report for the Year ending 30 June 2017 publicly released by the council in February 2018 revealed the council lost $1.86 million on the sale of the pensioner housing and 1.1 hectares of bare land.
In February almost sixty people who attended a public meeting by the Horowhenua Ratepayers and Residents Assoc Inc. supported calls for an Inquiry into the business dealings of Horowhenua District Council and other matters.

Former Councillor Anne Hunt sent this email out to the many supporters who have assisted battle the dictatorial behaviour of the HDC CEO David Clapperton:

“David Clapperton claims he needs to intercept our e-mails because they are abusive. Read to the end of this…
What is this then; the e-mail he sent to a journalist threatening to bring ratepayer-funded Buddle Findlay on board?
RNZ phoned me yesterday, and I have sent them a copy of the letter that I recently received from the OAG and also my original complaint.
They will probably be bullied as well!
Cheers
Anne”

From: Anne Hunt [mailto:annehunt@inspire.net.nz]
Sent: Wednesday, 9 May 2018 7:30 AM
To: 'Tony Appleyard' <Tony.Appleyard@oag.govt.nz>
Subject: File reference EN/LCA/3-0015
Importance: High

“Tony
I am forwarding this e-mail from David Clapperton on to you, because I am concerned that he will be putting pressure on the OAG to release a finding that clears HDC.
We are already dealing with the impact of the recently-released Maori Appellate Court judgement that Judge Doogan failed to disclose his conflict of interests with Matt Sword, spanning a number of cases over the past five years, including Mr Taueki’s attempt to stop HDC discharging stormwater into this privately-owned Lake.
And even though Judge Doogan appointed Matt Sword and the other lake trustees, and Matt Sword chairs this ‘trust’, the Ombudsman determined that HDC has the authority to disconnect Mr Taueki’s water following instructions by Matt Sword as chair of the ‘trust’.
Even though I notified HDC that Mr Taueki had been rushed to hospital by ambulance in a serious condition, Mr Clapperton refuses to reconnect Mr Taueki’s water supply. The days without water have now reached 553.
MDC CEO David Clapperton.

So we know how ruthless Mr Clapperton can be.

Therefore I am simply bringing Mr Clapperton’s threat to your attention.

RNZ phoned me yesterday as a result of the Scoop article, and I have sent them a copy of my complaint.
We understand that Mr Clapperton and Mr Bishop are jointly purchasing property, and if that is so, Mr Clapperton would have a vested interest in protecting Mr Bishop’s position.

Due to the e-mails I am receiving from HDC’s planning department, it seems like the Chair of the Hearings Committee is also planning not to reveal her conflict of interests with a submitter to a major plan change.
By the way, I am conversant with the Saxmere case, because I was present for both Supreme Court hearings.
Cheers
Anne Hunt”

Have a read of this blog from 2013; it was read by over four and a half thousand viewers. It will no doubt show you what a vital battle has taken place to change the in-built dictatorial culture that exists at the HDC. http://wheelerscornernz.blogspot.co.nz/2013/08/anne-hunt-speaks-out-for-justice.html

At the last local elections the voters tossed out the Mayor but of course the CEO [Clapperton] was not elected so he remains…and the HDC problems continue unabated.

If you would like to learn a little more about Clapperton: go to: http://wheelerscornernz.blogspot.co.nz/2018/03/horowhenua-boss-seeks-new-contract.html

This behaviour simply proves what the people of the HDC have to put up with, its time the Minister of Local Government stepped in and brought back some democracy to the HDC.

Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise: Victor Hugo