War of words: Tauranga residents butt heads at controversial Māori ward meeting
29 Jan, 2021 12:49 AM
5 minutes to read
A large group of vocal protesters disrupted a meeting opposing the introduction of Māori wards in Tauranga today.
The controversial meeting was initially organised in a bid to gather more signatures for a petition against Māori wards.
However, the petition had already gathered enough valid signatures to prompt the poll before the meeting started.
Hundreds of people turned out to the meeting at the Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club, some holding signs saying No to the petition and Say yes to Māori wards .
Western Bay Councillor Margaret Murray-Benge, who organised the meeting, told protesotrs to stuff up and that they were doing their ancestors a great deal of harm. Maori Ward advocate Buddy Mikaere who called for the protest against the petition, said the wards were needed to ensure Māori had a voice in local government. He dubbed the legislation that allows a petition of five per cent of voters to trigger a referendum on them racist. He then announced the signature threshold in Tauranga had reached the required five per cent. This was met with cheers and applause from the crowd.
Hobson Pledge s Don Brash to speak against Tauranga Māori wards
26 Jan, 2021 06:29 PM
5 minutes to read
Hobson s Pledge spokesman Don Brash will speak at a public meeting in Tauranga on Friday, despite resistance from some parts of the community. Photo / File
A Tauranga meeting with Hobson s Pledge spokesman Don Brash as one of the headline speakers has been organised in a bid to gather more signatures for a petition against Māori wards. However, the meeting on Friday could face opposition from protesters as resistance to the petition swells.
The public meeting is expected to be held at the Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club and will discuss the issue of Māori wards. Brash, Hobson s Pledge spokeswoman Casey Costello and former New Conservative member Elliot Ikilei will be speaking.
Letters to the editor: One-size-fits-all rubbish policy dismays
11 Jan, 2021 07:00 PM
3 minutes to read
A variety of Tauranga City Council rubbish bins and recycling bins. Photo / File
Bay of Plenty Times
I m dismayed by the autocratic one-size-fits-all rubbish policy adopted by Tauranga City Council. It is in such contrast to what I experienced during my time living in Calgary, Canada, whereby this same issue was open for full public consultation.
The outcome was an inexpensive, creatively agreed user-involved system without household bins.
Throughout the city, large colour-coded containers were permanently placed in every supermarket parking lot and other public parking areas.