As mysteriously as they arrived … they disappeared. No collective councillors’ decision triggered their creation; likewise no such decision terminated them. Interesting way to conduct a Council information campaign.

Last week we reported that the Hastings District Council was featuring a set of videos that explain the rationale for having Māori seats and the benefits HDC has derived since introducing them in 2022.

The videos, originally posted on the HDC Facebook page, were to remain until 30 June. This timing reflected that the election season is deemed to officially begin on 1 July, which is when our local election season officially begins.

You’ll recall that HDC – like CHBDC, NCC and HBRC – are all required to conduct referenda on Māori wards as part of the 2025 local body elections.

However, the videos — featuring Councillors Tania Kerr, Ana Apatu and Wendy Schollum, with Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst also to appear — have now disappeared.

A HDC acting chief executive Bruce Allen commented to BayBuzz:

“Yes, the Māori ward videos have been removed from Council’s social media channels. While the original plan was to take them down by 30 June, we’ve taken the step earlier, out of an abundance of caution, following the concerns raised.

“Council produced the videos to help address common misconceptions about Māori wards, for example, the mistaken belief that people on the Māori roll would receive two votes. They were also intended to raise awareness of the upcoming referendum and encourage public discussion of what is a significant decision for our community.”

Although HDC treated this exercise as merely sharing its experience to date with the seats before the public, the Council clearly has caught heaps of flack for using its comms channels to ‘influence’ voters on the referendum.

BayBuzz queried all HDC Councillors who had not prepared videos for their views on the matter. Here are their responses.

Simon Nixon
Māori represent 29% of our population and of course must be represented. 

I was one of just two councillors who did not vote in support of the Māori wards prior to their establishment I felt their introduction distorted the geographical representation our ward system provides. 

Additionally in my view Māori wards did not increase Māori representation around the council table and may in fact have reduced the number of councillors that identified as Māori. I remember at one stage we had Henare, Jacobi, Baden, Adrianne, Tania and Ann out of a total of 14 councillors. Currently we have five of 15.

Whilst there was discussion about the video I do not recall any vote on the issue. Rather it was presented as a decision already made. Nor have I viewed the videos. Knowing the council attitude to the issue I was not supportive and was convinced the presentation would be one sided and unbalanced. 

From what I hear the videos not only endorse the concept of Māori wards but could effectively endorse the current occupiers of the three Māori ward positions. 

I have not been asked to contribute (hardly surprising) and it is unlikely I will prepare my own video, remembering I spent many decades working in the media. 

I will say I think the current occupiers of the Māori ward seats are great people and often support.

Marcus Buddo
I will not be preparing a video. This issue is going to be decided by the public in a binding referendum, and I trust our community to make an informed decision without me preparing a video though council. My focus is on governing council’s spending, rates, and services.

Damon Harvey
I did vote in support of creating Māori Wards. I have seen many positives by having Māori representation at the table as they have a direct engagement with ratepayers and residents that are directly impacted by council decisions – similarly to rural wards and our other current ward structure. It’s like me trying to influence decisions in one of our rural wards when it doesn’t really have any impact on me. I have 2 responsibilities – represent rate payers and residents of the Hastings and Havelock North ward and the best interests of the district.

It’s now in the hands of the community to decide and I hope that this will once and for all put this divisive issue to rest and move forward. I put this challenge out last August at a council meeting: that those either for or against have to rally the troops.

I would prefer to do a video on the water services delivery consultation or the annual plan which might drive ideas that can reduce the financial impact of rate rises on rate payers now and into the future.

Michael Fowler
I supported, as did all HDC councillors, the original motion to keep Māori wards for the next trimester, 25-27.

As you well know, the future of them will be decided by a referendum. I have enjoyed a constructive relationship with all of them during the current trimester. 

Malcolm Dixon
There were six scripts available and as I wasn’t standing again I decided to give the opportunity to those that were re-standing for election. 

My other reasoning was that quality candidates will always get elected and Bayden Barber is a prime example of that.  Heretaunga / Hastings needs the very best available who represent our wide community.

Kevin Watkins
No, I am not planning to prepare a video. 

No response:

Councillors Alwyn Corban, Heather Te Au-Skipworth, Henry Heke, Kellie Jessup, and Hana Montaperto-Hendry.

The high readership of our original article and the online responses we’ve received so far indicate a high level of interest in both issues raised by this exercise: 1) where do Hastings’ elected leaders stand on the critical issue of Māori wards? and 2) do all councillors see this campaign as an appropriate exercise for the Council to carry out?

The Councillors who have nothing to say on either matter need to be questioned about their timidity and lack of transparency. Not a good pre-election look!