May 13, 2021
Whakatane ward vote skirts close to deadline
An advocate for Māori wards is worried her home town may be late to the party.
Toni Boynton says Whakatāne District Council has put off its meeting on the issue until May 20 – the day before the deadline, so there’s no time for a rethink if the vote goes the wrong way.
She’s marshalling supporters both Māori and non-Māori to be at the meeting to encourage councillors to hold up their side of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
"We have maintained our part of the agreement to the best of our abilities and whenever there are disasters, whenever there is need, te iwi Māori are there to help everybody and will continue to do so. All we are doing is waiting for the other treaty partner to step up," Ms Boynton says.
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