The Hikoi - When a city walks together

In the Hikoi held today Maori created a big space for voices to be heard. A space used not just for their call for stronger Maori representation and their rightful place at the super-city table but also a space for a large and diverse group of Aucklanders to express their hopes for a fair and democratic process.

“We’re here today to support the aims of the Hikoi,” said Tony Mayow, spokesperson for the Community Coalition for Auckland: Voices of Tamaki Makaurau. “We’ve come together united with a strong voice that this Government will fail to listen to at its peril. Today is proof that the government has got it wrong in how it has approached the super-city process. They need to listen to the people and change track.”

“People are suspicious,” warned Pat Watson, a member of the Coalition, “It’s only commonsense that past behaviour is the best predictor of future behaviour and unfortunately the government’s track record to date on the super-city issue is not reassuring.”

“Public concerns have been largely ignored, the recommendations of a sensible royal commission report have been scrapped in favour of Rodney Hide’s version and changes have been rammed through under urgency,” Ms Watson stated. “The lack of time to consider what the changes may mean is incredibly disrespectful to one third of all New Zealander’s and is enough to make a saint suspicious about the true intentions behind the government’s actions.”

“If John Key wants our trust – now is the time for him to earn it. He needs to make sure that the Select Committee hearings on the Super-city are conducted so they truly hear the opinions of all affected Aucklanders who wish to submit. This means taking the hearings to affected communities and not predetermining numbers or style of submissions.”

The Community Coalition calls on Aucklanders to let the government know what they think and send submissions.

“Ring or email your local MP,” urged Elaine Dyer, also a member of the Coalition. “MPs are there to represent you, don’t hesitate to let them know how you feel.”

A public meeting will be held at Kelston Community Centre in Waitakere on Monday 1 June. Organised by Grassroots Action Group (GAGs), this meeting will discuss taking action for democracy and advice on how to write submissions to the Select Committee hearings. Further community workshops on submission writing are planned for the near future.

ENDS

© Scoop Media