Video: “Assault on whakapapa” by coalition government spurred IronMāori founder to stand for Hastings District Council
Veteran political campaigner Heather Te Au-Skipworth says an “assault on our whakapapa” by the National-led coalition government has spurred her on to compete in the Hastings District Council Takitimu Maroi Ward by-election.
The Iron Māori founder and former Te Pāti Māori candidate will be up against firebrand Destiny Church Pastor Michael Ngahuka and Jason Whaitiri, her cousin and brother of former Ikaroa-Rawhiti MP, Meka Whaitiri.
The seat became available when incumbent councillor Renata Nepe resigned, saying he now has full-time employment that would impact on his council responsibilities.
Last year Te Au-Skipworth dramatically stood aside for Whaitiri to become the Te Pati Māori candidate for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti. Whaitiri had herself sensationally quit the Labour Party to join Te Pati Māori. Te Au-Skipworth was then chosen as the party’s candidate for the Tukituki election, but later withdrew from that.
In an interview with Hawke’s Bay App, Te Au-Skipworth said that she was only ever on a political pause.
“I was never stepping out of politics altogether, and I think the fire in my belly came from what I believe is a current assault on our whakapapa in terms of storytime whenua and the obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi for this coalition government.”
“It kind of helped to spark me back into it, but I continued to stay involved in local politics even when I took a pause. That’s not the only thing, but that was the catalyst for making me jump back in.”
Asked how she was going to translate her opposition to the coalition government’s Māori policies sitting around a council table, Te Au-Skipworth said: “I don't know whether the current council have ever explored the beauty that lies within Te Tiriti o Waitangi. So we have an obligation, but how much do we actually implement and acknowledge Te Tiriti O Waitangi in their council operations in terms of councillors’ mahi, but also in the day-to-day operations of council. So for me, it's in the first instance asking how we implement or enact our obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi first before assuming what they are or aren't doing.”
Te Au-Skipworth says the other issue she feels passionate about is education.
“A lot of our whanau think that council is about rates and rubbish, and those that aren't ratepayers, I'm not sure that they're aware that the council is there to serve them as well.”
“There's some talk out there at moment talking about rate payers don't want this and ratepayers don't want that. Well, actually the council is there to provide services for the community as a whole, not just rate payers.”
Asked what she would do to reduce Council debt, which is currently sitting at $400 million, Te Au-Skipworth said that she would like to look at the details if she was elected.
“Yeah, it's a juggle, Andrew. I think for me, I'd like to get in and get into the detail of it. So without knowing what the finer detail is, it's really hard to say what I can and can't do.”
“I think unfortunately, it's inevitable that there needs to be rate rises. That's kind of common across a lot of the councils. We are also a flood struck region, which is very unfortunate for us.”
Asked if she thought supporters of IronMāori would vote for her, Te Au-Skipworth said: “Absolutely. So I'm not just facial recognition, I'm grassroots, as you said, but I'm a hard worker and many people know that.”
“And even though I took a political pause, people were still coming to me for advocacy, and I always think we shouldn't be called politicians. We should be called advocates. Because then that reminds us that we are there to do a job for our people, not the fantasy styled word of politician where all of a sudden you transform into something different. So I know I've got a great voter base.”
“People tell me, stop me, messages, and I know I'll win this seat. Humbly, I know I will win this seat.”
Hawke’s Bay App is approaching all candidates for interviews before the elections.
Andrew Austin – Editor, Hawke’s Bay App – andrew@hbapp.co.nz
Watch the accompanying video to see the full interview with Heather Te Au-Skipworth
