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August 22, 2024
Protest good entrance to local government conference
Peter Verschaffelt
Posted On August 22, 2024
Download AudioHutt City councillor Gabriel Tupou says he was happy to stand briefly with protesters outside the Local Government New Zealand conference.
The group was there to protest the arrival of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and to state their support for Māori wards.
Mr Tupou, who represents a city-wide ward, says he recognised some in the group including former Porirua mayor Mike Tana, although the majority were pakeha.
“It shows tangata tiriti taking the opportunity to stand in solidarity with tangata whenua at such a sensistive time for Maori concerning our Maori wards and so I thought it was a great way for me personally to walk into the conference,” he says.
Mr Tupou says the process of bringing in Maori councillors has been unifying for councils, and the actions of the coalition Government has been destablising and demoralising given the contributions those councillors are making around the table.
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