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Kaipara District Council has voted down a notice of motion calling for te reo Māori to be used in key official documents, the latest in a series of controversies that have dogged and divided the council.
At its monthly meeting on October 25, Cr Ihapera Paniora introduced a notice of motion calling for te reo to be included in all official documents “to the extent that the documents are bilingual, including but not limited to the Annual Plan, the Long Term Plan, the Annual Report and any other documents that council staff deem appropriate”.
Paniora, who represents Te Moananui o Kaipara, the Māori ward established in 2020, said Mayor Craig Jepson had unilaterally decided to discontinue the practice, and argued he lacked the authority to do so.
“The purpose of this motion is not to unwind the decision – and that is not expected to occur – but it is an opportunity to understand some of the reasons why this decision was made and perhaps come to some middle ground,” she told the meeting.
Paniora said the governing body was required to ensure that Māori were adequately consulted yet Jepson had not consulted with Māori, iwi or herself as Māori ward councillor before making the decision.
“Revitalising te reo is a slow intergenerational commitment that will take many years,” she said. “It starts with ensuring that there are opportunities for te reo Māori to be embraced and encouraged in mainstream and at all levels. Māori need everyone’s help to do so.”
Seconding the motion, Cr Eryn Wilson Collins said it was an important conversation to be having. She had heard concerns from iwi in Dargaville, and there was unease in the community at what is seen as “a eurocentric viewpoint”.
Cr Ash Nayyar voiced frustration that council business had been “hampered” by matters which he described
as unproductive.
Council then voted, with only Paniora, Wilson-Collins and Cr Mark Vincent voting in favour. The motion failed by three votes to seven.
Jepson said in a statement afterwards that the motion had been addressed and a majority of councillors did not support it.
“Council is still working through the ramifications of this at this time,” he said.
