A report with a very curious opening sentence was posted on the RNZ website at the weekend.
It kicked off:
Auckland is pushing for increased female representation in governance, coinciding with International Women’s Day this weekend.
Because Auckland has a population of 1.716 million people, this push – you might think – would have generated enough of a rattle to register with other news media.
But no. Other media (according to PoO’s google check) were paying attention to other stuff.
The RNZ report said women account for 51 per cent of Auckland’s population, but hold only 37 per cent of elected positions in Tāmaki Makaurau.
In the 2022 local elections, although fewer wāhine ran for office, a higher proportion of those elected were women (44 per cent compared to 35 per cent for men). Currently, 63 of Auckland’s 170 elected members are women.
So we are playing a numbers game.
Manurewa-Papakura Ward Councillor Angela Dalton emphasised the value of diversity in governance, according to the report, and looked beyond female representation. She highlighted the importance of including Pacific people, Māori, Asians, young people, and retirees, “who often find themselves in a society not designed to meet their needs”.
Let’s check out some of the numbers, according to the Auckland Council.
At the 2023 Census, 203,544 usual residents in Auckland identified as Māori (12.3% of Auckland’s population). This is an increase of 22,350 people, or 12.3%, since the 2018 Census. The Māori population has grown more rapidly than the wider Auckland population (5.4%).
One in eight Aucklanders identify as Māori In 2023, 12.3% of the total Auckland usually resident population identified as Māori, slightly more than at the 2018 Census (11.5%)
But Maori can brandish something that “women” collectively cannot – they base their demands for a greater say in what happens on The Treaty.
This has secured some special governance arrangements for them, but not special Maori wards.
The Auckland Council says Māori take part in decision-making in a number of ways:
Houkura’s role is to make sure Auckland Council meets all legislative requirements with regards to the Treaty, as well as to promote important issues for Māori in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland.
What about Asians, who have no treaty?
Asian ethnicity is growing rapidly. At the 2023 Census, 518,178 usual residents in Auckland identified with an Asian ethnicity (31.3% of Auckland’s population). This is an increase of 75,504 people, or 17.1%, since the 2018 Census. The Asian population has grown more rapidly than the wider Auckland population (5.4%).
The proportion of Aucklanders who are Asian has increased. In 2023, 31.3% of the total Auckland usually resident population identified with an Asian ethnicity, up from 28.2% at the 2018 Census.
So – significantly more Asians live in Auckland than Maori. More than twice as many.
But they have no special Treaty-based arrangements – at least, none that PoO is aware of – to ensure their voice is heard. They just vote and hope for the best, like most citizens.
The same goes for the Pacific Peoples, who also outnumber Maori in Auckland.
That’s the constitutional price non-Maori must pay, presumably, for not getting here first.
Bob Edlin is a veteran journalist and editor for the Point of Order blog HERE. - where this article was sourced.
Because Auckland has a population of 1.716 million people, this push – you might think – would have generated enough of a rattle to register with other news media.
But no. Other media (according to PoO’s google check) were paying attention to other stuff.
The RNZ report said women account for 51 per cent of Auckland’s population, but hold only 37 per cent of elected positions in Tāmaki Makaurau.
In the 2022 local elections, although fewer wāhine ran for office, a higher proportion of those elected were women (44 per cent compared to 35 per cent for men). Currently, 63 of Auckland’s 170 elected members are women.
So we are playing a numbers game.
Manurewa-Papakura Ward Councillor Angela Dalton emphasised the value of diversity in governance, according to the report, and looked beyond female representation. She highlighted the importance of including Pacific people, Māori, Asians, young people, and retirees, “who often find themselves in a society not designed to meet their needs”.
Let’s check out some of the numbers, according to the Auckland Council.
At the 2023 Census, 203,544 usual residents in Auckland identified as Māori (12.3% of Auckland’s population). This is an increase of 22,350 people, or 12.3%, since the 2018 Census. The Māori population has grown more rapidly than the wider Auckland population (5.4%).
NOTE: MELAA refers to Middle Eastern, Latin American and African.
People could choose more than one ethnicity and therefore categories are not exclusive.
One in eight Aucklanders identify as Māori In 2023, 12.3% of the total Auckland usually resident population identified as Māori, slightly more than at the 2018 Census (11.5%)
But Maori can brandish something that “women” collectively cannot – they base their demands for a greater say in what happens on The Treaty.
This has secured some special governance arrangements for them, but not special Maori wards.
The Auckland Council says Māori take part in decision-making in a number of ways:
- Houkura, formerly known as the Independent Māori Statutory Board, may appoint people to some of the committees of the Governing Body.
- Auckland Council takes part in co-governance bodies such as the Tūpuna Maunga Authority.
The Tāmaki Makaurau Mana Whenua Forum is made up of representatives of the 19 iwi and hapū in Tamaki Makaurau. It partners with the Crown and Auckland Council on national and region-shaping matters that require a collective voice.
Houkura’s role is to make sure Auckland Council meets all legislative requirements with regards to the Treaty, as well as to promote important issues for Māori in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland.
What about Asians, who have no treaty?
Asian ethnicity is growing rapidly. At the 2023 Census, 518,178 usual residents in Auckland identified with an Asian ethnicity (31.3% of Auckland’s population). This is an increase of 75,504 people, or 17.1%, since the 2018 Census. The Asian population has grown more rapidly than the wider Auckland population (5.4%).
The proportion of Aucklanders who are Asian has increased. In 2023, 31.3% of the total Auckland usually resident population identified with an Asian ethnicity, up from 28.2% at the 2018 Census.
So – significantly more Asians live in Auckland than Maori. More than twice as many.
But they have no special Treaty-based arrangements – at least, none that PoO is aware of – to ensure their voice is heard. They just vote and hope for the best, like most citizens.
The same goes for the Pacific Peoples, who also outnumber Maori in Auckland.
That’s the constitutional price non-Maori must pay, presumably, for not getting here first.
Bob Edlin is a veteran journalist and editor for the Point of Order blog HERE. - where this article was sourced.
6 comments:
I refused to take part in any woman's day events at work. I told my manager that I wanted more men as the office has become unbalanced. We need to go back to self resposibility and individuality.
It is fascinating how NZ ignores its population that has no Māori or British connection. We are not Pakeha - we came from different places to be New Zealanders. And we make more than a third of the country. And very many of us came here with our education, skills and possessions to live in a country that told us that it treats its people equally. I think it is time to hold it to account.
I'm confused,
The RNZ report said women account for 51 per cent of Auckland’s population, but hold only 37 per cent of elected positions in Tāmaki Makaurau.
should RNZ not compare statistics for the same location!
Strange that 25% of the population has no voice. We came here to use our skills in a land where we were told that all were equal. Instead...
Maori have a word for everyone who are not Maori - Pakeha
Could someone create a new English style word to describe us better than the derisive tone of "pakeha"?
Also note that Maori haven't created a word for part- Maori- perhaps we could do that
by calling them "ten percenters " or less ?
Wonderful illuminating comment - throws a bright light on the utter stupidity of applying Maori names to anything and everything that has a perfectly good, valid and long existing English name.
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