This is a heartfelt thank you.
The results are in, and they speak for themselves. Twenty-five councils have voted to remove Māori wards. That is not just a political result, it is a statement. It is proof that when ordinary New Zealanders are given the chance to decide for themselves, they choose equality, democracy, and fair representation over division and race-based privilege.You fought an incredibly hard campaign.
From the outside, it may have looked like just another political debate, but anyone paying attention knows it was far from easy. Billboard companies were harassed. Stuff pulled your ads. The media [not us —Eds] and political establishment openly sided with the other team.
And still, you kept going. You stood on principle, not because it was popular, but because it was right. That takes real courage.
To Dr Don Brash, who has never stopped standing up for the idea that all New Zealanders are equal before the law, thank you. Your consistency and calm leadership have been invaluable in an era where too many prefer slogans over substance.
To Elliot Ikilei, who fronted the campaign with conviction and clarity, thank you. You have been a voice of reason and courage when it was needed most.
To the many others who helped make this happen, Corina Shields, Walt Cavendish, and every single person who lent their face, their voice, or their energy to the campaign, whether you agreed on every detail or not, your willingness to stand up publicly for what you believe in deserves recognition.
It takes guts to speak out in today’s climate, especially when doing so puts a target on your back.
This result, twenty-five councils choosing to remove Māori wards, proves that the message resonated deeply across the country.
It is a victory for common sense. A victory for those who still believe that New Zealand should not be divided by ancestry or political fashion.
There is still more work ahead, and we all know that. Seventeen councils have chosen to keep Māori wards, and that shows the fight for true equality is not over. What you have achieved is extraordinary.
You have reminded the nation that democracy still works when the people are allowed to speak freely. So once again, thank you to every volunteer who dropped leaflets, every donor who chipped in, and every person who refused to be bullied into silence.
You have made a real difference.
Sincerely,
So just how much is it going to cost the ratepayers for those councils that have opted for maori wards even though they will not contribute one thing to the running of councils. Of course they will demand staff and that all things are made maori
Well technically in Kapiti’s case they are only one vote out of 11, and we don’t yet know the exact make-up of the other 10, although we know some of them. There is already a department within KCDC for ‘iwi liason’ although it only liases with 3 of them on the Coast, the others are ignored. If the new Maori Councilor shows any interest in the affairs of the council (none responded to the CRK questionnaire and had no interest in attending debates) it may be all in Te Reo accounpanied with ‘cultural accoutrements’ and haka.