October 03, 2022
Awhi offered for new Māori councilors
The chair of Local Government New Zealand’s Māori Te Maruata Māori arm says her group is there to help for new Māori councillors elected this week
Postal voting ends on Saturday.
Bonita Bigham says there will be more than 60 new Māori ward representatives across 34 councils, expected.
Many will struggle in the job, but she urges them not to get disheartened.
“Even though there might be racism, even though there might be criticism, even though there might be some really hard times in some of those debating changes we have to think long term and think about the sacrifices out tupuna made to get us to this place and carry on the work so we make it a better place for our mokopuna,” she says.
Te Maruata aims to contact every new Maori councillor elected – and help them with whatever they need.