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A Taranaki Maori leader wants the New Plymouth District Council to challenge the need to hold a referendum on whether it can create a Maori ward.
Grant Knuckey says the referendum, which was triggered by a petition opposing the Maori seat plan, could turn the city into the centre of white supremacy in the South Pacific.
He says having proper Maori representation on council is about ensuring Maori interests get a fair hearing, not about giving any special privileges.
" In the last 150 years it hasn't been very pleasant being Maori with a brown face, certainly in this community because we've lost a heap of stuff from the confiscations. And we are signing up to a settlement, we've had an apology from the Crown and I don't think the city council has taken that into consideration, when they consider undertaking such a referendum vote " he says.
Grant Knuckey says the fact New Zealand signed the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples should outweigh the requirement to hold a vote.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH GRANT KNUCKEY CLICK ON THE LINK
http://www.waateanews.com/play_podcast?podlink=MjY3NTM=
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