Colinxy: Davina Smolders and the Price of Dissent

When “participation” means silence, and “consultation” means obedience

Every so often, a local‑government story breaks through the noise and reveals something deeper — not just a dispute over process, but a clash of political worldviews. The case of Davina Smolders, councillor for the Far North District Council, is one of those moments.

Bob Edlin: A Maori leader’s comment on government funding for marae...

It’s the recognition that matters – a Maori leader’s comment on government funding for marae

Aperahama Edwards, a bigwig among the Ngatiwai, has a reputation for being strong on flexing Maori muscle and championing Maori sovereignty.

He popped up at the Far North District Council meeting last week, to speak as Chair of the Ngātiwai Trust Board and Co-Chair of Te Kahu o Taonui.

He said he was delivering a clear message:

Michael Laws: Check Out The Otago Regional Council’s ‘Strategic Directions’ Policy

Think the Far North & Gore councils are co-governance worries? Check out the Otago Regional Council’s ‘Strategic Directions’ policy.

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Davina Smolders and Sean Plunket update the Far North Co-Governance Issues

Councillor Davina Smolders on updates on Far North co-governance issues.

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Duncan Garner: Voting And Speaking Rights Given To Unelected Iwi Up North

Duncan dives into a major shift happening right now in the Far North District Council. They have held an extraordinary meeting to give full voting and speaking rights to unelected iwi and hapu members. We look at what this means for local democracy and whether shared governance works when there is no shared electoral accountability to the ratepayers.

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Bob Edlin: Tensions over co-governance spread from Far North to Hastings....

Tensions over co-governance spread from Far North to Hastings – but Simon says he sees no cause to intervene

A headline on the OneNews website suggests Simon Watts might be earning his keep – at last – on the wretched issue of elected councillors sharing their powers with unelected iwi appointees.

It says: Local Government Minister puts scrutiny on Far North District Council.

That’s his response – presumably – to a councillor in the Far North hoping to put him on the spot by calling for his intervention.

But he’s not ready to intervene. For now, he has delegated the exercise of his authority to departmental minions: