Racial Tensions Escalate as Councillor’s Car Targeted in Protest Against Māori Wards
A New Plymouth city councillor’s car has been struck by a bullet hole, reportedly as a form of protest against his opposition to Māori wards.
Tensions between supporters and opponents of Māori wards in New Zealand local governments escalated with the shooting of a notable ute owned by New Plymouth City Councillor Murray Chong.
Chong was not present in the vehicle during the incident.
The issue has sparked racial tensions in the country after a law allowing councils to decide on having a separate Māori ward was repealed by the Coalition government. The new law mandates a council that has implemented a Māori ward to vote on its continuation until the 2025 local elections, followed by a binding elector referendum.
Chong had vocally opposed the adoption of a Māori ward by the New Plymouth council.
When a second vote was held on Aug. 6, he abstained and expressed concern for his safety, stating that he would no longer resist a Māori ward due next year.
Chong revealed that he had received death threats over the past five years, faced physical assault warnings, and even had threats against his dog and daughter.
Mayor Neil Holdom confirmed the vehicle had indeed been shot at, condemning the escalating aggressive behavior in politics towards elected representatives.
A former Mayor of Nelson also recently encountered a terrifying intruder, although the incident was unrelated to the Māori ward issue.
Council Māori Wards
The Māori ward system mirrors the long-standing Māori seats in Parliament, allowing those on the Māori electoral roll to vote for a Māori ward councillor instead of a local area representative.
New Plymouth council, despite 83 percent of residents opposing the decision, voted to retain the Māori ward. Similar decisions were made by Kapiti District Council and Palmerston North City Council.
On Aug. 7, Kaipara District Council voted to remove its Māori ward, triggering legal action from the local iwi.
Some councils are considering ignoring the Sept. 6 deadline to decide on Māori wards, potentially incurring the cost of referendums ranging from $35,000 to $250,000.
The Law Changed, Then Changed Back
Recent legislation restored the ability for community-initiated referenda on Māori wards, making it mandatory, following the 2021 law that removed this provision. The National Party accepted this change as part of coalition agreements.
The Ngāpuhi iwi protested government policies by walking out of a meeting with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, while councils like Palmerston North City are exploring options to resist holding referendums.
Luxon cautioned against jeopardizing democracy, referencing the replacement of the Tauranga City Council with commissioners by the previous government.
