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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!
The venue had initially been a local historic homestead but was changed to the Waiohiki marae.
“Council businesses should be conducted in neutral civic spaces that are open and comfortable for all elected members and the public. Local government should be secular and inclusive,” he said in his post.
Can you imagine the venue being changed to the local Catholic church? Didn’t think so.
[…] “In terms of my discomfort with holding council business at a marae, there are several reasons. Firstly, I do not appreciate listening to extended addresses delivered in te Reo without translation, particularly when the majority of councillors are not fluent. This limits meaningful participation and understanding,” he said.
“Secondly, the spiritual aspects associated with marae proceedings, including references to beliefs that are not consistent with my own Christian faith, make it an uncomfortable environment for me to participate in official council business”.
[…] “If councillors simply go along with virtue signalling without making a stand, nothing will change. At times, taking a short term stand is necessary to achieve better long term outcomes and stronger governance,” he said.
[…] Mayor Wendy Schollum said the strategic sessions were “about setting a direction, not making decisions on projects, so future conversations with our community are grounded, realistic and focused on what matters most.”
“Over the years we have often held these sessions in community venues, including halls, marae and function centres. It provides an opportunity to connect with our varied communities, and is always much appreciated. We received feedback from Waiohiki that they were delighted to host us, and that it meant a lot after all the challenges they went through as a result of the cyclone,” she said.
Well, that makes it OK then.
Clearly Steve Gibson isn’t being racist or even unreasonable, despite Stuff’s attempts to make it look like he is. It’s also plainly obvious that council meetings should not be held in places with religious significance, including marae, churches, synagogues etc.
In fact, I’m surprised that Waiohiki would be so keen to let their marae be so easily desecrated.
It seems that those who virtue signal the most are usually the most racist.
Source: https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360931210/councillor-refuses-attend-meeting-because-its-marae
