Listen Now: 
October 22, 2019
Hollis hollering at odds with Local Government Act
Waatea Team
Posted On October 22, 2019
Race relations commissioner Meng Foon says a Tauranga city councillor may need to rethink his views if he is to honestly swear his oath of office.
Andrew Hollis, who was the second-highest polling candidate for the council’s four at large seats, claimed during the campaign the treaty of Waitangi was past its use by date and that it was time to stop “the iwi gravy train”.
Mr Foon says Māori don’t have much of a chance in Tauranga if that attitude is allowed to prevail.
He says the duties of councilors are clearly set out in the oath Mr Hollis has to swear this week.
"The words in it, you need to be impartial and listen and be fair to your communities and you've got to swear to abide by the Local Government Act which mentions the Treaty of Waitangi and tangata whenua in there. He may not like that and he may not wish to be sworn in, therefore he can’t be a councilor" Mr Foon says.
The former Gisborne mayor says he is making local government a priority in his work as race relations commissioner.
!["p_facebook"]("/site/uma/images/story_img/facebook.jpg")
& !["p_twitter"]("/site/uma/images/story_img/twitter.jpg")
Copyright © 2019, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
RELATED NEWS
