Listen Now: 
December 13, 2022
Kaipara karakia compromise can’t stop hīkoi
Adam Gifford
Posted On December 13, 2022
The organiser of tomorrow’s karakia protest march through Dargaville says it will go ahead despite a so-called compromise from Kaipara District mayor Craig Jepson.
After preventing Māori ward councillor Pera Paniora sayng a karakia to start the council’s first meeting, Mr Jepson held an informal meeting with eight other councillors and announced that each councillor in turn would be able to start a meeting in whichever way they wanted.
Paturiri Toautu says that means only one true Māori karakia a year, as Ms Paniora is the only Māori councillor.
He says the issue is about power, control and domination, as there is to be no tikanga Māori in formal council proceedings.
The march starts at 8am tomorrow from the Dargaville Countdown supermarket.
RELATED NEWS
