Penny Marie: Five Prayers a Day - And Nobody Asked Your Permission

When cultural activity becomes religious imposition, it's time for New Zealanders to start asking hard questions.

A parent in New Zealand recently discovered that their child had been reciting prayers (karakia) to Māori gods five times a day at a standard state school. Not a kura. Not a Māori immersion school. A regular taxpayer-funded school that is, by law, supposed to be secular.

When that parent tried to have their child excused, they were made to ask - repeatedly - before being granted what should have been an obvious right from the start.

Steve Gibson: Why Councils Need to Live Within Their Means

Across New Zealand, councils are drifting away from a simple principle that every household understands. You cannot spend more than you earn and expect it to end well. In Hastings, where I serve as a councillor, we are seeing this play out in real time.

Our council has approved a draft annual plan with a 9.1 per cent increase in spending. That is roughly three times inflation. At the same time, ratepayers are being asked to accept higher rates while the council borrows $4.8 million just to fund day-to-day operations.

Graham Adams: Councillor Refuses To Kowtow To Marae Protocol

Hastings politician won’t compromise his values.

At first glance, you wouldn’t guess that Mark Carney’s much-lauded speech to the World Economic Forum last month in Davos had any relevance to a councillor in New Zealand refusing to attend an official meeting at a marae.

However, the theme of the Canadian Prime Minister’s speech was the importance of being open and honest about widely accepted beliefs we all know to be at least “partially false”. He urged middle-nations to call out the cosy view of the “rules-based international order” which is routinely abused by the powerful.

Kevin: Now No Separation of Church and State

That’s racist!

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”.

Raaaacist!

Geoff Parker: When Graciousness Is Used as Power

The Hastings marae controversy has been wrapped in the language of kindness. “A councillor was told he will ‘always be welcome.’ He was offered an ‘open invitation’ and a chance to ‘start his journey.’” The tone is gentle, patient, even magnanimous.

That is precisely the problem.

Geoff Parker: Democracy Needs Neutral Ground

Local government exists to serve everyone — and that requires neutral ground.

The debate surrounding Hastings District councillor Steve Gibson’s decision not to attend a strategic planning session held on a marae is not about disrespect or cultural hostility. It is about whether official council business should be conducted in settings that are secular, linguistically accessible, and free from cultural or spiritual expectations, so every elected representative can participate equally and without pressure to conform.