A Hastings District councillor refused to attend a council strategic planning session because it was held at a marae.
First term councillor Steve Gibson posted on his Facebook page that he refused to attend the council’s strategic planning session on Wednesday because he was “not comfortable participating in council business where religious or spiritual practices form part of official proceedings”.
He said the meeting venue had changed “at the 11th hour” from a “neutral civic venue to a marae”.
The venue had initially been a local historic homestead but was changed to the Waiohiki marae.
“Council businesses should be conducted in neutral civic spaces that are open and comfortable for all elected members and the public. Local government should be secular and inclusive,” he said in his post.
Can you imagine the venue being changed to the local Catholic church? Didn’t think so.
[…] “In terms of my discomfort with holding council business at a marae, there are several reasons. Firstly, I do not appreciate listening to extended addresses delivered in te Reo without translation, particularly when the majority of councillors are not fluent. This limits meaningful participation and understanding,” he said.
“Secondly, the spiritual aspects associated with marae proceedings, including references to beliefs that are not consistent with my own Christian faith, make it an uncomfortable environment for me to participate in official council business”.
[…] “If councillors simply go along with virtue signalling without making a stand, nothing will change. At times, taking a short term stand is necessary to achieve better long term outcomes and stronger governance,” he said.
[…] Mayor Wendy Schollum said the strategic sessions were “about setting a direction, not making decisions on projects, so future conversations with our community are grounded, realistic and focused on what matters most.”
“Over the years we have often held these sessions in community venues, including halls, marae and function centres. It provides an opportunity to connect with our varied communities, and is always much appreciated. We received feedback from Waiohiki that they were delighted to host us, and that it meant a lot after all the challenges they went through as a result of the cyclone,” she said.
Well, that makes it OK then.
Clearly Steve Gibson isn’t being racist or even unreasonable, despite Stuff’s attempts to make it look like he is. It’s also plainly obvious that council meetings should not be held in places with religious significance, including marae, churches, synagogues etc.
In fact, I’m surprised that Waiohiki would be so keen to let their marae be so easily desecrated.
It seems that those who virtue signal the most are usually the most racist.
Source: https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360931210/councillor-refuses-attend-meeting-because-its-marae
Kevin is a Libertarian and pragmatic anarchist. His favourite saying: “There but for the grace of God go I.” This article was first published HERE
5 comments:
We need to distinguish between the venue and the procedures here.
I have no objection to attending a meeting of a secular body in a building intended for religious practices, as long as the 'spiritual' is not invoked in the proceedings. I do have a problem with attending a meeting in a 'secular' environment such as a community hall where a 'spiritual' ritual is imposed on me as part of the proceedings.
Do not conflate the two.
Confirming Kevin’s point and Barend’s. Would any council expect to be invited to meet in an Islamic mosque? A Synagogue? Or a mainline Christian church?
A council might however make use of a local church hall which could be regarded as neutral territory - while not requiring participation in any specific religious practices. Maori are within their rights to regard their marae as sacred to their culture alone. But to have Maori pseudo-religious claptrap (Animism and Spiritism) foisted on us is another matter altogether, and of real contention. This is the point where Maori religion (?) and secular culture begin to clash. The councillor was fully within his rights to opt out which he has done respectfully.
Other points. We are now in a position where adoration of the Treaty is soaking into so many parts of everyday life. The Treaty is now re-creating itself all through the wider culture. Do we all have to be aware of and take up the practice of Maori animism concepts? It seems that our overall governance systems are unable to operate without the obligatory bowing and scraping to the Treaty.
I regard the Treaty now as the Humpty Dumpty Treaty. Quoting Humpty Dumpty: “A word means what I say it means”.
Note: I am differentiating spiritism and spirituality. Spiritism wherein Maori believe the “spirits” of their ancestors are accompanying and influencing at some intellectual level all Maori at all times. Am I sounding like Humpty Dumpty?
The author left out the $2,700 fee the Maoris charge for the use of the marae.
Just follow the money.
Why was this meeting held on a marae ?
What is the benefit to the ratepayer ?
Warm platitudes towards Maori ?
Nothing, right then, the meeting stays in the Council offices.
Stop the BS, and push back - the local Maori are just rolling over the top of everybody else.
Stop being gullible suckers being bullied about by the biggest racists in NZ.
When reading this article and you see the name - Wendy Schollum, the 'dear lady' is a clone of the former Mayor - Sandra Hazlehurst.
Also to, we have not heard anymore about the "pillorying" of Steve Gibson ( a recent addition. with a majority vote - by the people) over "supposed" verbal comments made in a public space.
We watch "this space", as they say, for the next installment of the actions etc of the Hasting District Council.
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