Retail: $2
www.gbweekly.co.nz
Friday 22 December 2023
Bay call to honour Te Tiriti
Maria Hambrook (with guitar) at last Friday's gathering on Tākaka's Village Green. "What's good for Māori is good for everyone." Photo: Jo Richards. JO RICHARDS
A group of around 60 people rallied in Tākaka last Friday to protest the new Government’s policies, which they see as anti-Māori. The National-led coalition’s plans include removing co-governance from public services, holding referendums on the establishment of Māori wards, and introducing legislation to review the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Within days of the Government being sworn in on 27 November, Te Pāti Māori called for nationwide protests to coincide with the opening day of Parliament, 5 December. On that day, a number of events took place across the North Island but little materialised in the South Island. Protests in Tākaka, Motueka, and Tāhunanui were therefore organised so that people in the Nelson-Tasman region had an opportunity to air their views collectively and in public. Beginning at 1pm, the good-natured gathering on Tākaka’s Village Green saw both Māori and Pākehā make a stand against the
scenic flights give a christmas voucher
just stunning
Golden Bay Air goldenbayair.co.nz 0800 588 885
S c h e d u l e d • S c e n i c • C h a rt e r
Government’s plans, through speeches, waiata, and movement. Maria Hambrook, whose iwi affiliations are with Te Aupōuri, gave the opening address. “I might look nice and friendly, but I am angry,” said Maria, explaining that she was brought up in a system that prohibited the speaking of te reo Māori and had “watched the process” of growth and acceptance of the language. She was clearly disappointed by the prospect of that progress now unravelling, particularly with support from some unexpected quarters. “What is most annoying is that some of the people making the rules are Māori.” Throughout the remaining 90 minutes, anthems were sung, and movements made, including waiata-ā-ringa in which tamariki were led by 11-year-old Olive Markham. Contributions weren’t limited to guitar and vocals; car horns from passing traffic, and a dog barking in remarkably good time to the music, both added to the afternoon’s soundtrack.
In quieter moments, attendees stepped up to speak, each underlining their support for the Treaty and criticising the Government’s plans. “Te Tiriti was written for everyone and gave people the right to be here,” said Willow Milligan, describing the Government’s messaging on the subject as “sinister”. Karen Brookes said she thought it was important to defend the gains made over recent decades. “I’m here because I feel that the Treaty is being threatened and it’s important to keep its sanctity. We’ve come a long way in the last 30 years and what the Government proposes is a backwards step.” Following Mihi Rangihika’s emotional rendition of a song about finding something that is lost, a karakia formally marked the end of the rally. Speaking to The GB Weekly as the crowd dispersed, Maria pointed out that improving opportunities and outcomes for Māori is not a zero-sum game. “What’s good for Māori is good for everyone.”
Ray White Golden Bay
JO RICHARDS
Tasman District Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP) began to take shape last week. At a meeting of the full council, the activities, plans, budgets, and policies to be included in the draft LTP were discussed and agreed. The draft document, due to be released for public consultation next March, will include, for the 10-year period 2024-2034: a capital programme of over $900m; a 120 per cent increase (to $445m) in net debt; and an average annual rates hike of 4.5 per cent, peaking at 9.56 per cent for 2024/25. In addition, an increase of 10 per cent in fees and charges is slated for 2024/2025. Getting to this point in the LTP process has required staff and councillors to scrutinise all planned expenditure and categorise items according to a “must” “should” and “could” hierarchy. Currently making the cut for the capital expenditure programme are several community facilities: Motueka Swimming Pool ($20m); Waimea South Community Facilities ($12.7m); Tapawera Community H u b ( $ 2 . 5 m ) ; a n d t h e M u rc h i s o n Recreational and Cultural Centre ($4.5m). Although there are no such investments planned for Golden Bay, the draft LTP specifies the continuation of funding for the Collingwood Resource Recovery Centre, Tākaka Library, and the Tākaka Visitor Centre. While these items are relatively s t r a i g h t fo r w a rd, o t h e r s o f m a j o r significance are complicated by the wider political landscape. The new Government’s policy announcements have created a great deal of uncertainty in key areas of legislation, making future planning highly problematic for local authorities. In the case of water infrastructure, the much-heralded repeal of the Three Waters/ Affordable Water programme means that the cost of replacement and maintenance will not be borne by central government but will instead revert to ratepayers through rates and/or user charges. Consequently, water infrastructure, which has been a major driver of TDC’s debt over the last few years, will continue to be so – a scenario acknowledged in the draft LTP with the inclusion of the $150m upgrade for Motueka’s wastewater treatment, and other infrastructure projects, such as Golden Bay’s new water treatment plant. TDC will now prepare the draft document for next year’s public consultation exercise, which will be followed by formal adoption of the LTP before 30 June 2024.
GoldenBayPropertyServices.co.nz * Window Cleaning * Water Blasting * House Washing * Gutter Inspection/Cleaning * Lawns/Grounds Maintenance * Drone Inspection/Surveys
Over 470 successful sales since 2010 Call 027 608 5606 Billy Kerrisk Ltd Licensed Agent REAA 2008
Inside: Teacher's farewell Community awards Sage Cox Disc golf Robin Slow THE GB WEEKLY, FRIDAY 22 DECEMBER 2023
Council’s draft LTP
027 690 0769 | Free Quotation ISSN (PRINT) 2538-0923 ISSN (ONLINE) 2538-0931
1