Wheeler’s Corner
“Connecting Citizens Who Care“. Every Monday
at 4 pm on Access Manawatu 999AM” Join Peter’s blog http://wheelerscornernz.blogspot.com/
12 25th March 2018
1.
2018’s Festival of Cultures
was greeted by an overcast morning but regardless the numbers turned out to
test the taste buds with exotic tasting food, or simply to chat with friends
not seen for some time.Both applied in my case.
I moved amongst the hundreds if not thousands
listening to or chatting with as they moved slowly around the circuit of tents.
Each tent was named for a country, Malaysia, Burma, China and almost any
country you can think off.
The music was wonderful to my ears
and the crowd showed their pleasure with heaps of applause.
This annual event really does
prove that Palmerston is an international city its efforts in making new
cultures settle in and find peace is a model other cities could copy should they
feel inclined.
We don’t need Obama on our golf
course paid for by Air Zealand as it continues to cut our air services, Funny
that, this only came about after ex PM John Key became an director on Air New
Zealand.
Palmerston North is in many
respects ahead of other locations. We are forward thinkers, we learn from our errors. We also have Councillor’s who are far more
socially advanced, after all the great majority of them, along with the Mayor
voted for Maori Wards. Naturally we have a few who live in the long distant past opposed to the concept, we even
have one that says one thing but does the opposite. Even the new National Party
local party chairperson supports Maori Wards and that is a huge step forward for the party once led by Don Brash.
Based on my brief chats with
dozens of individuals at the Festival of Cultures it would seem that many
people don’t know the facts about Maori Wards. I found no one opposed but I did
note that many had questions and I might add those questions were worthy of
honest answers. I was reminded of a quote:
“Silence is the real crime against humanity”. Nadezhda Mandelstam, Hope against hope.
Below are some honest and constructive answers to the many
questions that arise when discussing the subject of local government and Maori
Wards. I found that once the persons question were answered they seemed much more relaxed about the issue.
I had to laugh when one or two elderly persons said that they were against Maori having their own wards at the hospital...once I assured them that the issue had nothing to do with hospital wards...one actually said that if the young Indian women who asked her to sign the petition had told her that bit of info she would not have signed. It was nice to meet someone so honest, oh and by the way she now supports Maori Wards and she assured me that she would let her friends know. That really made my day worth while.
I had to laugh when one or two elderly persons said that they were against Maori having their own wards at the hospital...once I assured them that the issue had nothing to do with hospital wards...one actually said that if the young Indian women who asked her to sign the petition had told her that bit of info she would not have signed. It was nice to meet someone so honest, oh and by the way she now supports Maori Wards and she assured me that she would let her friends know. That really made my day worth while.
2. Councils and Māori wards: your questions answered
What is a Māori ward?
Māori wards establish
areas where those on the Māori electoral roll vote for their
representatives on Council. They sit alongside the general wards.
Why do we need them?
Councils have
legal and other obligations to ensure Māori are involved in local
government decision-making.
For example, under
the Local Government Act (2002) councils must:
·
Establish, maintain and improve opportunities for
Māori to contribute to local government decision-making processes.
·
Ensure processes are in place for consulting with
Māori.
·
Consider ways to foster Māori contribution to local
government decision-making processes.
Māori wards are a way
of achieving this by ensuring that Māori are represented in council decision-making.
Why can’t Māori just
stand in general seats?
They can, however if
they are elected they represent general not Māori interests, this means that
councils’ obligations are not fulfilled.
Doesn’t democracy
mean one person, one vote?
Māori voters still
only get one vote, just like everyone else — they either vote in the Māori ward or
general ward depending on where they are enrolled. The establishment of Māori
wards doesn’t impair anyone else’s right to participate.
Democracy means government
by the people or their elected representatives. Maori currently have
a disproportionately low representation in local government. Māori
wards allow for better democracy as people who are currently poorly represented
can become more fairly represented.
Shouldn’t it be about
merit?
Yes, it is. People
who stand for Māori wards get elected on merit just like any other councillor.
Why do Māori get
separate wards and not any other group?
Including Māori in
council decision-making is about sticking to agreements that have been made
for the good of all New Zealanders.
Māori have a unique
position as the first inhabitants of New Zealand, a position the New Zealand
government recognised by supporting the UN Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples. The agreement that allowed for all subsequent people to
come and settle peacefully here (the Treaty of Waitangi also outlines
requirements for power-sharing]. The issues that are dealt with by local
government are issues of deep importance and concern to Māori, like water,
urban planning, and cultural heritage.
What are the
benefits?
Māori wards mean that
the people who need to be involved in council decision making are at the
table from the start. The experience of councils with Māori wards show they
support more effective decision-making.
Māori bring
significant networks and knowledge to the table — their involvement in local
decision-making benefits the whole community. This will bring a more meaningful
and diverse viewpoint to decisions that relate to our community, environment
and our future.
What will it cost?
Māori Wards will not
mean additional cost to ratepayers. The number of Councillors will remain
the same but one or two of those elected members would come from the Māori
Ward.
I support Māori wards
what should I do?
Vote Yes, in the
upcoming postal referendum and encourage others to! Remind people that
Māori wards allow for more effective council decision-making. Māori wards
benefit the whole community — they are good for all New Zealanders.
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at:
www.facebook.com/TogetherKiaKotahiMai
Peter J Wheeler
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