New Zealand is built on the values of unity, equal citizenship, and shared responsibility for our common resources. However, a recent proposal by the Auckland Council to introduce co-governance in the management of the iconic Waitakere Ranges threatens to undermine these very principles. The proposal, which would see local hapū share power with the Auckland Council in overseeing the Ranges, is not only unnecessary but risks creating a divided society where ethnic lines determine who holds decision-making power over public spaces.
