Former councilor backs ward idea

Sue Milner

Hours after the News reported last week it could find no Māori who had been elected to the Waipā District Council, Sue Milner put the record straight.

The former three term district councillor, who now chairs the Cambridge Community Board, is of Ngai Tahu and Te Aitanga Mahaki decent.

“Fellow councillors knew I was part Māori – I declined an opportunity to be part of the council’s iwi liaison because I am not local,” she explained.

The former councillor has been following the News’ coverage of the Māori ward issue as district councils review their options in a new theatre where their decisions cannot be overturned by a referendum.

She supports the idea of Waipā having a Māori ward – but added the rider that she would want local iwi to also support the ward and “put their best foot forward” by being involved in the nomination process.

Waipā District Council has launched a consultation process as part of its consideration for establishing a Māori ward having decided not to do so and instead appoint iwi representatives with voting rights on each of its four standing committees.

It prompted Cllr Hazel Barnes to suggest last week that councillors knew what the outcome was going to be, in reference to failed efforts by other councillors to establish wards.
The final decision now, though, will rest with councillors.

The consultation period runs to April 21 and information can be found at https://www.waipadc.govt.nz/our…/haveyoursay/maori-ward

The link includes a presentation from the council’s iwi relations advisor Shane Te Ruki who says the Māori ward issue is the “number one discussion at the moment”.

“Māori wards – an opportunity for the display of treaty partnerships… there are lots of plusses; perhaps lots of negatives, who know?” he says.

“But most important is your voice – it’s time to make submissions.”

More Recent News

News ….. in brief

Yellow lines Waipā road safety staff have distributed signs to various schools pointing out the issues parents parking on yellow lines cause outside the schools. They are put out in the morning and at the…

Students have a vision

Ōhaupō School’s budding science and technology minds have been acknowledged at a school ceremony. The schools celebrated recent success for students at this year’s Niwa Waikato Regional Science and Technology Fair. Thirteen pupils from the…

Council looks at Boshier report

Waipā district councillors have discussed communications with the public in response to Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier’s recent report. Boshier took issue with councillors for doing too much work behind closed doors, and echoed some concerns…

Maunga to maunga livestream

Dairy farmers, sheep and beef farmers, iwi and other community members are celebrating the second anniversary of a largescale initiative to create an ecological corridor in the Waipā district. The Taiea te Taiao project will…