After receiving legal advice, ousted councillor Hinerangi Goodman is dropping her legal fight for her seat.
Hinerangi Goodman has dropped her fight for the Murupara-Galatea seat this election but has promised to return in three years' time. Photo: Charlotte Jones/LDR
Mrs Goodman launched a legal battle after a recount of votes in the Whakatāne District Council election saw her ousted by one vote a week after being sworn in as councillor for the Murupara-Galatea ward.
After careful consideration of legal advice, Mrs Goodman has decided to "gracefully bow out" and will not pursue any legal action against the council.
However, while she is down, she isn't out, and has promised she will make a return at the next local government elections.
"It was a huge decision, it wasn't lightly made," Mrs Goodman said.
"But in light of the lawyer's advice, myself and my team decided not to carry on."
Mrs Goodman said the advice the lawyer gave made her, and her team, realise that there was nothing they could do to change the law.
"Every judge and lawyer in the land must abide by these laws, as stupid as they may seem," she said.
"It has been a huge learning curve for myself, my team and my people."
While she may be giving up on her legal battle, Mrs Goodman said the fight had not been a waste of time and she viewed it more as a victory than a defeat.
She said because of her fight, the people of Murupara were now aware that if they wanted anything to change, they had to turn out to vote.
"If that was our job, then we have done it," Mrs Goodman said.
She will now be watching closely to ensure the situation doesn't repeat in future elections.
Council chief executive Stephanie O'Sullivan and mayor Judy Turner met with the Minister for Local Government Nanaia Mahuta last Thursday evening.
"Judy (Turner) rung me to let me know what happened and it seems to be a good outcome," Mrs Goodman said.
"I have to say she has a good heart and it was good of her to call me. For the council to come forward and be seen to be walking that path, I think it is brave and the right thing to do."
To fund her battle, Mrs Goodman created a Givealittle page, which at the time it closed had raised $1821 in donations.
Mrs Goodman said this money would be used to pay the legal fees already incurred and whatever remained would be used to put on a Christmas meal for the children of Murupara.
Whakatane council members are hopeful a meeting with Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta will lead to change. Photo: Charlotte Jones/LDR
She said the community behind her, funding the fight, simply did not have the money to carry the whole campaign.
With this particular fight now behind her, Mrs Goodman is looking forward to a quiet time with family before preparations begin for the next local government elections.
She said the legal battle had put her, her family and the wider community under significant stress and it was almost a relief to drop the fight and concentrate on the future election.
"With all the chaos I caused, I have to come back and finish it off - live another day, another fight," Mrs Goodman said.
"It has been soul destroying, but it was a successful campaign. It's been a wonderful journey, and I've been so humbled. All in all, we did well."
Meanwhile, Whakatāne council members are hopeful a meeting with Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta will lead to positive change.
Whakatāne District Council chief executive Stephanie O' Sullivan and Mayor Judy Turner met with Ms Mahuta last Thursday evening to discuss the process surrounding the Galatea-Murupara Ward tie and recount situation in the recent local elections.
Both women believed the meeting was productive and are hopeful it will lead to positive change.
We explained to the minister how the election unfolded, the various deadlines, and legislative restraints we faced, and the profound hurt caused to the two candidates, their whānau and supporters," Mrs Turner said.
"We also emphasised that the current legislation guiding elections does not adequately address Te Ao Māori requirements."
Mrs Turner said the minister was empathetic to the Whakatāne situation and was now awaiting further guidance from her officials but was committed to taking action on this issue as soon as possible.
Local Democracy Reporting is a public interest news service supported by RNZ, the Newspaper Publishers' Association and NZ On Air.