‘Yes’ vote for Māori ward in Stratford
| Published date | 26 May 2021 |
| Author | Ilona Hanne |
| Date | 26 May 2021 |
| Publication title | Stratford Press |
The meeting, which took place just hours before the time given by central government as the deadline for local councils to determine if they will introduce a Māori ward in time for next year’s local elections, was called by Mayor Neil Volzke just two days beforehand.
Volzke’s decision to call an emergency meeting to discuss the topic came less than 24 hours after Stratford District Councillors heard submissions from Ngāti Ruanui and Ngāruahine representatives, who appealed for them to introduce Māori wards in time for next year’s elections.
After hearing those submissions on Tuesday at the council’s long-term-plan hearing, councillor Min McKay had asked her fellow councillors if they were still “comfortable with our stance” regarding Māori wards. That stance — to not introduce Māori wards in time for the 2022 elections but rather to consult with iwi in time to consider the issue for the 2025 elections — had been challenged in March when Mayor Volzke asked councillors if they wanted to revisit that original decision, which had been made in August last year.
While the mayor, along with councillors Min McKay, Peter Dalziel and Amanda Harris, had wanted to revisit the decision in March, they were outvoted, with the other seven councillors voting to leave it as it was.
Speaking at the start of Friday’s emergency meeting, Volzke said he stood by his decision to call the meeting to make a decision in time for next year’s elections.
It was, he said, the right thing to do.
He said he accepted the outcome was in the hands of all elected members, but felt he was right to call the meeting to make the decision.
“If I fall on my sword, so be it.”
Herewini Nopera, chairman of Whakaahurangi Marae, was one of the speakers to address elected members.
“Some see the decision to be made today as a new beginning, I see it as a door opening to a new beginning.
“Say yes,” he appealed to elected members. “Say yes so we can pull up our sleeves and do the work. We as the Stratford community have spiritual connection to the tangata and the town.”
Graham Young of Te Runanga O Ngāti Ruanui Trust also spoke, and told councillors there should be no doubt as to what iwi wanted.
“The consultation you want is now in the room before you.”
If the decision did not go in favour of the establishment of a Māori ward it would “drive a wedge” between iwi and the council, he...
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