Buddy Mikaere and Margaret Murray-Benge debate Māori representation in governance 1 Apr, 2021 09:00 PM 4 minutes to read Margaret Murray-Benge (left) and Buddy Mikaere went head to head on the topic of Māori representation at a governance level. Photo montage / File Margaret Murray-Benge (left) and Buddy Mikaere went head to head on the topic of Māori representation at a governance level. Photo montage / File "The saddest 20 minutes of my life." That was Māori historian and former Waitangi Tribunal director Buddy Mikaere's opinion of his opponent's comments on the history of Aotearoa during a debate in Tauranga this week. Mikaere debated Western Bay of Plenty District councillor Margaret Murray-Benge on Tuesday night on the subject of Māori representation in governance.