New Plymouth councillors vote to establish Māori ward

Tuesday, 21 July 2020

As the chamber erupted in applause and members embraced, there were tears from the man whose life was irrecoverably changed when he championed a Māori ward six years ago.

Former New Plymouth mayor Andrew Judd said he was humbled that district councillors had voted to bypass community consultation and establish a Māori ward in time for the 2022 election.

The same decision in 2014 cost Judd his mayoralty after a community-initiated referendum voted the seat down.

“The passion from our new councillors is so humbling and exciting, and doing the right thing is always the right thing,” Judd said on Tuesday.

“The messages they spoke of today just reiterated everything we’ve gone through for the last six years.”

**READ MORE:

* Call for 'silent majority' to step up in New Plymouth Māori ward debate

* A fiery start to New Plymouth's Māori ward debate

* NPDC to consult community on Māori wards

**

The decision means the ward will be there in time for the next election, unless overturned by another citizen-instigated referendum, which several councillors and current Mayor Neil Holdom are expecting.

The council had been set to put four options for a Māori ward out for consultation, but it was councillor Sam Bennett who moved to establish one then and there.

He called on his fellow councillors to be brave.

“To be the people in our community that cultivate and lead hope, not fear,” he said.

“The fact is the law needs to change.

“However that does not and should not stop us from leading the charge today.”

The move was seconded by councillor Gordon Brown. It was never the wrong time to do the right thing, he said.

Councillor Amanda Clinton-Gohdes was also in support.

“We don’t have to be afraid of what happened in 2014. It is not 2014 any more.”

Even if there was a repeat, she agreed with Brown to let it happen, as it would highlight the problems in the legislation.

However deputy mayor Richard Jordan argued that it was a mistake to not put the issue out for community consultation.

His comment prompted a walk-out of ward supporters, who then performed a waiata in the foyer.

The singing was a clear attempt to disrupt the functioning of the council, Holdom said. He asked that a safe space be made for everybody to express their view.

“Of course we will. We have no other option,” kaumatua Peter Moeahu said.

“No one is in danger,” another person commented.

Emotion ran high as the debate continued.

A lot of councillors had campaigned on listening to the people, councillor Murray Chong said, and this decision went against that.

“All that will do is bring up what we’ve experienced before.”

He said councillors had heard from a few people who supported the ward but there were people against the ward who were too afraid to speak in opposition.

Councillor Dinnie Moeahu, spoke passionately in support of the immediate establishment of the ward.

He said he had to work extremely hard to get voters to see past his ethnicity.

'For non-Maori, you can be average and get on council. The truth is if you are Māori you have to be extraordinary to get on council.'

As second to last to speak on the motion, Holdom said he could not vote against a Māori ward but argued there should be community consultation.

This prompted a number of people to leave the chamber again, with Puna Wano-Bryant saying Māori had spoken and community consultation was not Māori consultation.

During his address, Holdom asked Bennett to withdraw the motion, but he refused.

“Let's be on the right side of history,” Bennett said in his concluding comments.

The motion was passed 12-2, with Holdom abstaining, prompting celebrations in the council chamber.