Post by Kiwi Frontline on Feb 12, 2016 16:21:07 GMT 12
Councillor protests at 'tokenism'
A Whangarei district councillor has gone on strike from a committee in protest over the appointment of a Maori adviser, saying he has no interest in participating in meetings with "race-based appointments".
Councillor Stuart Bell said while he was pro-Maori engagement, he saw the appointment of the adviser to the planning committee, otherwise made up of elected councillors, as "tokenism" and said it was actually offensive to Maori.
"I boycotted [the] meeting, and may boycott more in the future, because in my opinion there is currently very little or no benefit in having race-based appointments of non-elected members on council committees." …..
www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503450&objectid=11588475
A Whangarei district councillor has gone on strike from a committee in protest over the appointment of a Maori adviser, saying he has no interest in participating in meetings with "race-based appointments".
Councillor Stuart Bell said while he was pro-Maori engagement, he saw the appointment of the adviser to the planning committee, otherwise made up of elected councillors, as "tokenism" and said it was actually offensive to Maori.
"I boycotted [the] meeting, and may boycott more in the future, because in my opinion there is currently very little or no benefit in having race-based appointments of non-elected members on council committees." …..
www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503450&objectid=11588475