No debate allowed: Wellington mayor publicly apologises to mana whenua
Tuesday, 26 November 2024
Wellington mayor Tory Whanau made a public apology to mana whenua on Tuesday morning ahead of what was one of the most crucial meetings of the year and is warning councillors there is no room for debate.
The Wellington City Council long-term plan committee met at 9.30am on Tuesday to try to find hundreds of millions of dollars in savings needed after the council decided against selling its 34% stake in Wellington Airport.
But it was the October ructions beneath the no-sale that will be high on the agenda with the mayor tabling an apology. The council has two mana whenua representatives, appointed by iwi, who can vote on committees but not the full council.
It meant the pair, Liz Kelly of Ngāti Toa and Holden Hohaia of Taranaki Whānui, cast their votes for the sale in committee and the sale was to go ahead. But their votes were effectively negated when the decision went for sign-off by the council, where it was cancelled without their votes.
On Monday afternoon Whanau emailed councillors telling them of her plan to apologise to mana whenua at the start of the meeting. She had invited iwi leaders to respond in Tuesday’s meeting. She wrote the apology on October 17 but planned to table it on Tuesday.
“As this is a mayoral announcement this will not be followed by debate, and I am asking to please show them respect to ensure a positive way forward,” she emailed.
It is understood Whanau was allowed to make her apology after getting permission from councillor Rebecca Matthews, who chairs the long-term plan committee.
Councillor Teri O’Neill, one of the councillors who voted against the airport share sale, welcomed the apology and said she had personally apologised to mana whenua.
The apology will be followed by the council having to decide what projects have funding cuts to make up the money lost from the no-sale. Most council spending, from the Golden Mile to cycle lanes to parks, is on the table.
Mayor Tory Whanau’s full apology
Kei te Rangapū Ahikāroa, Pouiwi, tēnā anō tātou.
Our Collaborative Working Relationship for the Capital City.
Since taking the Wellington mayoralty, working collaboratively with you as Māori leaders within the Capital City is important to me and my Council. However, last week's events mean I need to acknowledge the severe breach of my collaborative desire, our trust as partners, and our Tākai Here agreement. We made a decision while seated at the table with iwi, but regrettably, that decision was revisited and made again without your involvement as iwi. This was an unacceptable breach of trust and the partnership principles we committed to. For that, I am deeply sorry.
The foundation of our partnership, as articulated in the Tākai Here, is grounded in mutual respect, shared values, and a commitment to collaboration. As Kara noted in a very articulate way, we breached the essence of Te kakau o te hoe—the paddle handle—which speaks to the accountability we share to keep this partnership strong. By making decisions without iwi, we failed to uphold the trust and respect that is the very structure of the handle. Te Rapa o te hoe—the paddle blade—symbolises equal representation and visibility in decision-making. By acting without you, we did not honour this core aspect of our partnership. It undermined the mutual respect and the mana-enhancing processes embedded in this agreement.
We recognise the gravity of this breach and understand that actions like these impact the trust that has been carefully built between us. It is now our responsibility to restore that trust and ensure that Te Manawatu, the integrity and transparency of our partnership, is upheld moving forward. We are committed to revisiting our processes to prevent such injustices from happening again and to restore the respect and collaboration this partnership deserves.
Our relationship is precious and must be nurtured with care, humility, and transparency, as outlined in our agreement's Matua te mana and Matua te pononga values. We seek your guidance on how we can make amends and rebuild our partnership in a way that reflects these values.
I know many of the Council value Liz and Holden's contribution to our work, and to them both, I have apologised personally for the position they were in last week as individuals. They have consistently presented themselves with humility and wisdom, and despite our actions as Council, they continued to act with this same humility. I am steadfast in my determination to continue working with your representatives, our Pouiwi. I hope they remain at the table with us to navigate a critical time for Pōneke. I am clear that the contribution of mana whenua at the Council and our partnership with the iwi of Te Whanganui-a-Tara is deeply valued by myself, the Council and Wellingtonians.
As your Mayor, a whanaunga, and a committed partner to our agreement, I am focused on doing everything I can to uphold the values and commitments enshrined in Tākai Here.
Despite these events, I hope you feel determined to continue our work together. We have critical tasks ahead, including the Long-Term Plan and the upcoming water reforms, and your leadership and insights are essential in shaping the future of our city.