Karakia a precious gift, Kaipara council told

Kaipara District Council Mayor Craig Jepson’s decision to discontinue the use of a Māori karakia to open and close meetings was akin to the council flogging off “a precious family gift”,  a community member told councillors on Wednesday.

“And I do believe that no matter which culture you’re from, that’s pretty rude,” Caren Davis told the meeting in Mangawhai.

Jepson stoked controversy last November by banning the karakia, a tradition for the previous 25 years, arguing that meetings should be secular and multicultural. The move prompted a hikoi ...