People are not against Maori Wards, rather against the way they were enforced
During yesterday’s Council meeting on Māori wards, our poll showed that 53% were in favor of retaining the wards. However, by the time the meeting concluded, support had dropped to 49%. With only one individual speaking against the wards during the meeting, many were left questioning why more voices were not heard. Yet, the result felt inevitable—Council had already signaled that all councillors were in favor of retaining the wards, making the vote a foregone conclusion.
History repeating its self
This is not the first time the Council has dismissed or maneuvered around public sentiment. Last August, over 160 residents gathered to express opposition to a proposed social housing project near Carrot Park, a project that would have seen 44 houses built in the first stage and up to 157 houses in total across three stages. Only three of the nine councillors attended this meeting, leaving ratepayers bewildered by the Council’s apparent disinterest in their concerns. Despite the large turnout, Council had provided only around 20 seats, leaving them scrambling to bring in more—an almost comical scene that felt more like a Laurel and Hardy film than a serious public meeting.
Nearly all attendees opposed the housing project, with the Mayor and CEO of Ruapehu District Council (RDC) promising to hear the public’s concerns and hold a special meeting to discuss the matter further. This promise, however, turned out to be hollow. A month passed with no further communication from the Council, leaving the public in the dark. Then, in a September Council meeting, it was revealed through an agenda item that a vote on the project would proceed without the promised public discussion. Those who spoke against the project at the meeting were met with belittling remarks and interrogation, yet not a single voice was raised in support of the development.
Despite the overwhelming public opposition and a majority of councillors requesting the matter be "left on the table," both the Mayor and CEO broke standing orders, forcing a vote. Their actions left councillors stunned, shaking their heads in disbelief as it became clear that public input was not welcome.
Council looks for loopholes
The lesson from these events is clear: no matter how many people or councillors speak out, the current Council does what it wants when it has set its mind on a decision. Yesterday’s meeting was no different. Councillors openly discussed finding loopholes in policy to get the outcomes they desired, reinforcing the notion that they will bend the rules to suit their agenda.
Ruapehu District Council along with Kainga Ora sought loopholes in the Teitei project, going from a independent consent review (to ensure fairness and to abid by the law) to a "reviewed consent" process which intentially excluded public inclusion (via loophole); a document that Kainga Ora refuses to release under the Official Information Act.
This Council seems more interested in pursuing policies based on personal feelings and emotions than on addressing real community needs with fiscal responsibility. We’ve seen this time and time again—from the housing project, to the Three Waters issue, the Raetihi Hub, and now the Māori wards. Public engagement feels like little more than a checkbox exercise, as decisions are made behind closed doors.
People are understandably hesitant to speak out when it feels like their voices will be ignored or when they risk being interrogated and belittled. This is exactly why a referendum on Māori wards will be held next year—to allow everyone the opportunity to vote in a safe and respectful manner, without fear of being antagonized for their beliefs.
Comments of Racism & Decisions driven by Feelings
Following yesterday’s meeting, we received derogatory comments from Mr. McFaul, partner of Pauline Welch (Executive Manager for Community & Economic Development at RDC), labeling those who opposed the wards as “racist.”. It’s no surprise that these same insults were hurled at those who opposed the Teitei project. This type of behavior only further illustrates the Council’s unwillingness to listen to any voice that challenges its predetermined agenda.
Pauline Welch, who is leading the project to build the Raetihi Hub, has made public statements such as, "Look past the cost at this stage and focus on other important aspects of the project." Similarly, statements like "Don’t worry about the funding for the $10m Raetihi Hub" have appeared in the Ruapehu Bulletin. These projects, while perhaps nice to have, are not essential and reflect spending that is neither prudent nor financially sustainable. We need a Council that makes decisions based on fiscal responsibility, not driven by emotions or sentiment.
Public comments on the Councils facebook posts regarding the Raetihi hub have echoed our feelings and comments, that while it would be nice to have, Council is broke and needs to put this off until such time it can be afforded.
The time has come for change—a Council that listens to its constituents and prioritizes the community's needs over personal agendas and unchecked power.
A Culture of Fear and Compliance
With many decisions being made based on emotions rather than responsible budgeting, it’s becoming clear that the Council is prioritizing certain agendas over the well-being of all ratepayers and residents. Moreover, when individuals who raise concerns or offer differing opinions are quickly labeled as "racist" or "against Māori" if their views don’t align with the Council's narrative, it creates an environment where open dialogue is stifled. This hostile atmosphere makes it difficult for councillors to speak up honestly or challenge decisions. Instead, they often fall in line, becoming “yes” people, agreeing with proposals simply to avoid being targeted or antagonized.
Referendum, Not against Maori Wards
We are not opposed to Māori wards. If the public votes to retain them, we will accept that decision. The current opposition stems from the fact that these wards were enforced upon the public, rather than being introduced through a democratic process with proper public support.
When Māori wards were first introduced, I misunderstood their purpose. I thought they were a security initiative, similar to the Māori wardens in Auckland who walk the streets and assist with community issues. I wasn’t aware that the wards referred to elected members of Council. This confusion arose from the lack of consultation and the poor communication about what the wards truly entailed. It became clear that, regardless of public understanding or input, the Labour government had imposed the wards without proper consultation or a democratic vote.
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