DEMOCRACY & THE PETITION TO CHALLENGE NEW PLYMOUTH'S MĀORI WARD DECISION

OPINION: The people in our community promoting the petition that seeks to challenge the NPDC's decision to establish a Māori ward say it is all about democracy.

They say it is about giving people in our community a voice. They say it is about promoting "unity" in our community.

But let's be very clear, it's none of these things. It's not about democracy or unity. The petition circulating in our rohe (district) that could force a binding poll on whether or not a Māori ward should be established in Ngāmotu is anti-Māori.

It's about excluding Māori from meaningful participation in local government, and it's an affront to the principles of partnership set out in Te Tiriti o Waitangi…

New Plymouth District councillor Murray Chong is behind a petition to challenge his own council’s decision to establish a Māori ward.