March 08, 2013
Ngāti Toa challenges Porirua mayor
Porirua’s Mayor Nick Leggett has riled Ngāti Toa through his treatment of his deputy mayor, tribal member, Liz Kelly.
Kaumatua Tom Kenny told a council meeting this week that the mayor and council were now dysfunctional.
Tensions have been building over changes to the governance of the Porirua Whānau Centre, of which Ms Kelly is Chief Executive, and a cut in funding to the community health festival Creekfest she was running.
Mr Leggett says he is prepared to attend a hui with kaumatua and iwi representatives to discuss the problem, and he regrets telling Ms Kelly to shut up during a Kōmiti meeting on the issues.
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