December 13, 2022
Votes not there for Kaipara karakia fight
Kaipara Māori ward councilor Pera Paniora says there wasn’t enough support around the council table to fully reverse new mayor Craig Jepson’s karakia ban.
Councilors have agreed to a so-called compromise in which each of them will get a chance to open a meeting with a karakia, prayer or sentiment of their choice.
Ms Paniora says she believes that’s a misinterpretation of the standing order which has covered the opening karakia for more than two decades.
But she says her work in civil litigation has taught her to meet people half way, and she read the room.
“I spoke to them and said we need to try to work this out. If we can’t get something so simple and so procedural sorted, where is the hope for our ratepayers that we can actually deal with the more important matters that are circulating around – the three waters reform, the local government reform,” Ms Paniora says.
Whatever is said to open the meeting still needs to conform with tikana, and she will bring a kaumatua in for a workshop in the new year to explain to councilors what that is.
There’s a march in Dargaville tomorrow to protest the mayor’s actions.