Councillor Pera Paniora (left) wanted to begin the council meeting with a karakia but Kaipara Mayor Craig Jepson (second right) was quick to reject her request. Photo: Screenshot / Kaipara District Council
Kaipara's mayor will not change his stance on banning karakia from council meetings.
Craig Jepson interrupted councillor Pera Paniora several times this week when she tried to start a hui in te reo Māori.
He has been called culturally insensitive by some members of the public.
But Jepson said he handled the situation correctly.
Councillors were there to do business and specific religions or cultures should not be included in meetings, he said.
"I don't have to include anything in the meetings. I don't have to include Indian culture, Asian culture, any other culture or religion or non-religious group - or Nordic - I don't have to give selections to anybody. We're there to do the business, we don't have to open it in any way."
He was not insensitive, he said.
"It's not racist at all in my opinion, I'm not a racist person. I wanted to run a secular council, I'm quite happy to have all groups included."
Jepson campaigned against Māori wards.
Pera Paniora (Te Roroa, Ngāti Whātua), who represents Te Moananui o Kaipara, said she had received hundreds of messages of support this week.
But the mayor's behaviour had been "disheartening".
"He states that he wants everyone to be included and treated equally. But from where I've been spending the last couple of weeks, he's not afforded the same opportunities to Māori and it comes across in such a way that makes you wonder, is there more to it?"
She said there was "a lack of respect or courtesy, shown by the mayor, and a simple discussion with me beforehand would have gone a long way".
More than a quarter of people in the district whakapapa Māori and Paniora said many were feeling "like we have a leader who's leading us, but Māori aren't valued or included in that".
She hoped the council could come to a compromise before the next hui.
Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon has said he was shocked and disappointed about what had happened at the council meeting.
"It's very important for councils and all organisations to create the right space to encourage Māori to honour the Treaty of Waitangi, to provide a space to express their culture and language," Foon said.
"I would encourage the leaders of Kaipara District Council to acknowledge that and create a safe environment for all people."