October 31, 2023
Filipaina calls out lies over Māori ward support
A long serving Auckland councillor says his fellow councillors need to be made accountable for their lies about establishing Māori wards.
Alf Filipaina says the council has been discussing the issue since 2017, and he has told his colleagues repeatedly that Maori elected into general wards do not have a mandate to speak on behalf of Maori.
He says during the debate only two councillors spoke against Maori wards – but then 11 out of the 20 voted no.
“If our community wants to have a look, especially in Tamaki, to see who voted against – long time councillors like Cr Fletcher, Cr Lee, even Cr Newman who was at Manukau wit me, the deputy mayor Cr Simpson, Cr Stewart, I knew she would be voting against, new termer Cr Turner, it’s just so disappointing but angry when they say they support Maori wards but then vote against establishing one. That’s how they are. They need o be made accountable,” Cr Filipaina says.