Māori Party president John Tamihere says Bay of Plenty Regional Council candidate Toi Iti will be just the first of many to contest local government elections.
Mr Iti won his Kohi Māori constituency seat last time as an independent, but this time he’s flying Te Pāti Māori’s flag.
Mr Tamihere says local government is one of the largest drivers of economic and social activity, but it has always been about Pākeha rather than Maori priorities.
“This is a new generation that is standing up, unapologetic, proud, and just because they’re proud to be Māori doesn’t mean they are anti-pakeha. What it means is it’s our turn and our time for our voice and our vision in our own whenua to have some buy-in and participatory capacity rather than Pākeha telling us what to do, when to do it and how to do it with out own resources,” he says.
Meanwhile, a survey of elected members in local government has found nearly half of respondents have experienced racism, gender discrimination, or other forms of harmful behaviour while doing their job in public office.
Local Government New Zealand president Stuart Crosby says in recent years there has been a small increase in the number of Māori, women and young elected members around the table.
He says councils need to reflect the diversity in communities and this type of behaviour puts that progress at risk.
The anonymous survey received 105 responses from across 56 local authorities.
Nominations for 2022 local body elections opened on Friday 15 July, and close at noon 12 August.
