Far North mayor Moko Tepania celebrates councillors' unanimous decision to retain the district's Ngā Tai o Tokerau Māori ward. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
Far North District councillors have voted unanimously to retain their district's Ngā Tai o Tokerau Māori Ward - and sent a blunt message to the government about a law they believe discriminates against Māori.
On Friday, the Far North District Council was the last of more than 40 local authorities in the country, along with Hutt City, to vote on the future of its Māori ward ahead of a 5pm deadline.
Originally councillors were to have voted on a resolution reaffirming an earlier vote to retain the Māori ward at the 2025 local elections, as well as holding a poll to determine whether the ward should remain in 2028 and 2031.
However, an amendment by councillor Tāmati Rākena added the words "discriminatory" and "forced on us against our will" to describe the poll.
Rākena's amendment also instructed the council's chief executive to explore the legal implications of refusing to hold the government-mandated poll.
Up to 200 people attended the meeting at Ngāwhā Innovation Park, near Kaikohe, far more than the venue could accommodate.
Students from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Kaikohe perform a haka outside the venue. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
Many had to follow the proceedings from the foyer or a hastily erected marquee outside.
A large number of students from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Kaikohe, where Mayor Moko Tepania used to teach, took part.
The meeting lasted more than three hours with speaker after speaker, many in te reo, calling on the council to retain the ward, or go further and refuse to hold a poll.
There was frustration, anger, humour, waiata, haka, tears, and ultimately joy as councillors voted one by one in favour of Rākena's resolution.
The crowd responded with a rousing rendition of Ngā Puawai o Ngāpuhi, sometimes called the Ngāpuhi national anthem, with Tepania leading on guitar.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rehia chairman Kipa Munro addresses the meeting. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
Tepania said it was a great day for the youth of the district, with Māori making up 72 percent of people aged under 25 in the Far North.
"I was absolutely blown away by the support we've seen from the community, by the eloquence of the speakers, and by the range of ages. We had a snapshot of our community here to speak, rangatahi, tamariki, kaumātua, and everything inbetween. It was beautiful to see."
Tepania was also pleasantly surprised by councillors' unanimous support for the amended resolution, given its "quite emotive" wording.
Now the council would have start gearing up for next year's poll - if it went ahead.
"We're going to have feedback from our chief executive and our legal team around the implication of us not holding a poll. But if we do have to, I think it stands a pretty good chance of winning here in the Far North."
Speakers earlier in the day included Ngāti Hine leader Pita Tipene.
He said Māori wards were not perfect but they were a step in the right direction and "a quantum shift" in achieving the vision of his tūpuna [ancestors].
Tipene said he had seen a huge transformation at the council since Tepania became mayor and the Māori ward was introduced.
"Now, all of a sudden, it has the potential to go backwards again," he said.
Ngāti Hine leader Pita Tipene addresses the meeting. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
Rākena said it was a myth that Māori wanted special treatment.
What they wanted, as set out in article 3 of the Treaty, was fair, equitable and just treatment.
"It's a plus-plus for councils to have Māori wards. You get skills, experience and tirohanga Māori [a Maori perspective] at the decision-making table. It's like having Māori seats in central government. Why can't we have it in local government?"
Rākena said councillors had already voted, on 9 May, to retain the Māori ward.
Now they were being forced to vote again, a waste of time and money at a time when the government was urging councils to cut unnecessary costs.
Holding the poll would cost local ratepayers $10,000, making a total of about $500,000 across the country.
"Moumou te wā, moumou te pūtea [waste of time, waste of money]," he said.
Seventeen-year-old Tamarah Waiomio-Ashby, a year 13 student at Te Rangi Aniwaniwa, urges councillors to retain Māori wards. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
Councillor Hilda Halkyard-Harawira said the government was demanding Māori justify their presence inside council.
"When this government said we need to do another poll, what they're asking us is: 'How come these Māoris came into our space?' And giving every council the opportunity to say, 'Let's keep it a white space'. Well, we're part of this space now, and we should have been a long time ago."
Currently the Far North has 10 councillors, four of whom are elected at large from the district-wide Ngā Tai o Tokerau Māori Ward.
The Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2024 requires all councils with Māori wards, which have not already held a referendum, to abolish the wards from the 2025 local elections - or hold a binding poll to determine whether the wards will be retained at the 2028 and 2031 elections.
The Far North District Council was the last of Northland's four territorial authorities to vote on Māori wards.
Last week, the Northland Regional and Whangārei District councils voted to retain their Māori wards.
The regional council also voted to seek advice on the consequences of not holding a poll.
Last month, the Kaipara District Council was the first in the country to vote to disestablish its Māori ward.
That decision is, however, being challenged by Ngāti Whatua, which has requested a judicial review.
