A chilly morning in sleepy Martinborough township was broken by the flourish of the Tino Rangatiratanga flag and a hīkoi around the town square, which ended with waiata by South Wairarapa District Council's chief executive at the office's foyer.
A hīkoi through Martinborough voiced concerns over South Wairarapa District Council's lack of a Māori ward. Photo: LDR / Wairarapa Times-Age / Marcus Anselm
Pro-Māori ward activists took their campaign to South Wairarapa District Council (SWDC) offices after a hīkoi through Martinborough today.
SWDC chief executive Harry Wilson fronted dozens of Wairarapa activists at the council chambers, calling for a Māori ward in the district ahead of today's deadline, before bursting into a waiata.
The peaceful protest, announced on social media late on Wednesday night, prompted about 20 local campaigners to join forces for a march around Martinborough.
The action came after a rare joint press release from all four Wairarapa iwi entities, blasting SWDC for failing to consider introducing Māori seats ahead of tomorrow's deadline, claiming the authority's stance "contravenes the provisions of Te Tiriti o Waitangi".
The iwi statement said they were "extremely disappointed" with what they called SWDC's "continued misinformation, delay tactics and the inability to engage with tangata whenua" for the establishment of a Māori ward.
"As Te Tiriti partners of South Wairarapa District Council, the lack of engagement with tangata whenua whānau and hapū contravenes the provisions of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, also undermining the council's Te Tiriti responsibilities and obligations."
The statement was signed by the heads of each organisation: Tiraumaera Te Tau, chair of Rangitāne o Wairarapa, Hera Edwards, her counterpart at Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Robin Potangaroa, of Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki Nui-a-Rua Settlement Trust, and co-chairs of Rangitāne Tū Mai Rā Sonya Rimene and Lewis Karaitiana.
It noted iwi felt "the deliberate delay tactics of these decisions will have consequences for tangata whenua marae, hapū and iwi within this region".
It stated the decision "perpetuates longstanding inequities, injustices and historical trauma previously suffered by their people in the past and that still face them today".
Te Tau, of Rangitāne o Wairarapa, said she was disappointed in the status quo.
"It is clear to me that SWDC are underprepared, have not done the proper research, and have seemed to have deliberately delayed any decision-making on the establishment of Māori wards."
South Wairarapa councillor Pip Maynard, her sister Melanie, the town's community board chair, were at council offices.
Māori Standing Committee member Teresa Aporo and Sophronia Smith of the Featherston Community Board took part in the march.
In March, amendments to the Local Government Act put through Parliament allowed local authorities to consider electoral changes by 21 May.
Many had pushed through late changes before the deadline. Before the recent changes, Wairoa, in the northern Hawke's Bay, was the only district with a Māori ward.
The 21 new districts included some of South Wairarapa's near neighbours.
Masterton's district council will debate adding a Māori ward today.
Tararua will have one from 2022.
Carterton did not extend a council seat to Māori, but did resolve to pay Hurunui o Rangi marae representatives.
A hīkoi through Martinborough voiced concerns over South Wairarapa District Council's lack of a Māori ward. Photo: LDR / Wairarapa Times Age / Marcus Anselm
However, SWDC had not debated the matter in public since the law change.
In a statement, Wilson said a 2018 representation review endorsed the status quo recommendations from its community boards and Māori Standing Committee, noting more research needed to be undertaken before a decision.
Councillors did consider a review last year but resolved the council could not meet the original deadline, 12 September.
"In 2020, council was still of that same view.
"Although legislation now makes the establishment of Māori wards easier, significant groundwork is still required before a fully informed report can be presented to council.
"Full and complete engagement needs to be undertaken with iwi and across the whole community. This all takes time, and we will be looking to do this as soon as we can."
The amendments removed electors' ability to demand a binding poll on establishing Māori wards. No other electoral review needed such a referendum.
Last July, South Wairarapa councillors chose not to launch a review of the district's electoral system after a staff report.
In the report, councillors were urged to decide on changes, including voting systems, Māori representation, and boundaries ahead of the 2022 local elections.
The meeting minutes said there "was agreement that trying to alter Māori representation within the proposed timeframes was not possible" and that "a long lead time for appropriate engagement was needed before the next representation review".
SWDC did not debate the Local Government Act amendments in either of its meetings since the law changes, on 31 March or 7 April.
In the 2018 census, 1500 people identified as Māori in South Wairarapa.
The district had a total population of 10,575 across its three wards, Featherston, Greytown, and Martinborough.
A hīkoi through Martinborough voiced concerns over South Wairarapa District Council's lack of a Māori ward. Photo: LDR / Wairarapa Times Age / Marcus Anselm
During the hīkoi, about 20 protesters marched from SWDC's offices in Kitchener St, around the town square, and back to SWDC's offices.
Led by former Māori Party co-leader Marama Fox and Abe Matenga, Kohunui marae kaumātua, the campaigners then entered SWDC's offices.
Council staff hovered anxiously in the corridors and behind the reception desk as the campaigners voiced their frustration at the delay.
Fox, and other speakers, then addressed SWDC chief executive Harry Wilson.
Front offices operations came to a halt as campaigners marched into the building and filled up the reception area.
Fox said it was "time for Māori to have a real voice at the council table", and SWDC "had 24 hours" to act, after "180 years of colonialism".
Wilson fronted the gathering. He said Mayor Alex Beijen was on leave.
He asked the protesters if they had submitted the council's long-term plan.
"Do you come and see me about your long-term plan?" Fox asked.
"We have tried and we are endeavouring and we will keep on lifting our game to make sure we are engaged," Wilson said.
"You've got 24 hours," Fox said.
SWDC chief executive Harry Wilson debates Māori wards with Marama Fox and other campaigners, at the council chambers in Martinborough. Photo: LDR / Wairarapa Times Age / Sue Teodoro
Protesters said SWDC engagement about the issue had been inadequate, with short notice and small numbers involved.
The often-heated exchanges ended amicably with those involved singing songs.
The campaigners were joined by a group of children, and sang waiata.
Wilson brought out his guitar and replied with a cover of the Cat Stevens classic 'Where do the children play'.
After the protesters left, Wilson said some matters raised were not council business, but others were.
He said he could not pre-empt consultation on the Māori ward question, although he thought it was a timing issue.
"The question is when," he said.
Wilson said he expected the ward to be discussed before the 2025 elections.
Outside the council building, many people hooted in support of the protesters.
Martinborough resident Joe Howells owned a business neighbouring the SWDC chambers.
Howells said he thought there should be a Māori ward.
"I totally support these guys. It's easy to forget that privilege protects privilege. If you're on the other side of the fence, it's hard.
"Good on them for stepping up for themselves."
Friday is the deadline to confirm a Māori ward for the 2022 election.
Local Democracy Reporting is a public interest news service supported by RNZ, the News Publishers' Association and NZ On Air.