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February 19, 2025
Papakura Marae stands firm on voting role
Atereano Mateariki
Posted On February 19, 2025
Download AudioThe Chief Executive of Papakura Marae says they hope controversy surrounding the Crown’s mismanagement of personal data does not hinder the opportunity to provide their community with a place to vote.
A Public Service Commission report released yesterday revealed that Stats NZ failed to implement proper safeguards to protect providers and personal data when sharing information with Manurewa Marae.
This has led to the resignation of Government Statistician and Stats NZ Chief Executive Mark Sowden next month.
Tony Kake says their marae also served as a community hub for the COVID-19 vaccination drive, the 2023 Census, and the recent election, during which their marae was the second most-used voting place in Papakura, behind the public library.
He says he does not rely on the Government to keep personal information safe and is confident in how Papakura Marae has managed voting, census, and COVID-19 data.
“We have scrutineers there from all the political parties to keep things tika, to keep things pono, and so for us, you know that’s another inducement or an influencing factor. You have your political representatives there as scrutineers. So you know that’s all good, and if they want to tighten that up, well that’s fine. But I hope that you know and evidence the second highest polling booth that that we get the opportunity to be a polling booth into the future,” says Kake.
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