Waipa Māori ward councillor Dale-Maree Morgan made an impassioned plea supporting Māori wards ahead of her colleagues’ decision to retain them this week.
Te Awamutu News August 29, 2024
The decision will spark a binding poll at next year’s local body elections where voters will vote on whether they want to keep Waipā’s solitary Māori ward. It will not impact on the current representation review which recommends reducing the number of general wards by three to seven.
Morgan was elected 14 months ago in a by-election and appealed to councillors on “more moral and ethical grounds”.
The establishment of Māori wards was a fundamental issue of justice, equity “and our responsibility as elected officials to uphold the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi,” she said
Waipa district councillors stand before the vote to hear a karakia from Bill Harris and Poto Davies. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
A section of the public gallery at the vote. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
“Māori wards provided an opportunity to ensure that Māori, as tangata whenua, have a guaranteed voice in our local governance, reflecting the unique partnership envisioned by Te Tiriti.
“As leaders of our community, we must ask ourselves: what kind of a future are we shaping for Waipā? A future where the voices of Māori are sidelined or a future where we stand together in the spirit of partnership and mutual respect?”
Holding a poll to determine whether Waipā should retain a Māori ward was a democratic option, “but we all know the risks reducing a matter of justice to a popularity contest”.
“The decision to support Māori wards should be grounding in our commitment to uphold the rights of Māori as guaranteed under Te Tiriti, not subject to the whims of a majority vote. We have a moral duty to protect these rights, even when it may not be the most convenient or popular path.”
- Read Dale-Maree Morgan’s speech in full.
Mayor Susan O’Regan and councillor Dale-Maree Morgan hug after the vote while in the background Jackie Collier of Waikato-Tainui, left, greets Waipa chief executive Stephanie O’Sullivan. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
1 year, 1 month and 25 days, is how long, I have had the honour of sitting in this Ward, created in 2021, with 84 percent support from our constituents.
So today, I want to appeal to you on more moral and ethical grounds as we consider the implications of the Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Maaori Wards and Maaori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2024.
So, the establishment of Maaori Wards is not merely a procedural matter, it is a fundamental issue of justice, equity and our responsibility as elected officials to uphold the principles of
Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Maaori wards provide an opportunity to ensure that Maaori, as tangata whenua, have a guaranteed voice in our local governance, reflecting the unique partnership envisioned by Te Tiriti.
As leaders of our community, we must ask ourselves: What kind of a future are we shaping for Waipaa? A future where the voices of Maaori are sidelined or a future where we stand together in the spirit of partnership and mutual respect?
Holding a poll to determine whether Waipaa should retain a Maaori Ward is a democratic option, but we all know the risks reducing a matter of justice to a popularity contest.
The decision to support Maaori Wards should be grounding in our commitment to uphold the rights of Maaori as guaranteed under Te Tiriti, not subject to the whims of a majority vote. We have a moral duty to protect these rights, even when it may not be the most convenient or popular path.
We all know the ethical implications of the decision we have to make, and to stand with me, in supporting the continuance of the Maaori Ward, I encourage you to consider. This is our opportunity to demonstrate true leadership by affirming our commitment to equity and honouring the principles that should guide us as councillors.
Just a few weeks ago, we watched our Olympians stand proud on a world stage, displaying a proud identity and unique culture to this land, standing together as many peoples co-existing well for our Aotearoa/New Zealand.
Last week, I was fortunate enough to attend the Local Government NZ conference, in Wellington and one big takeaway from that, was all but the ‘Supreme Individual Award’ – all the awards, Iwi were fundamental in those successes.
Waipaa is known as the home of champions, lets be champions in our leadership with decision making today.
Dale-Maree Morgan speaking at the Waipa District Council meeting. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
