Video: Chance to advocate for communities sees Jason Whaitiri stand for Hastings District Council again
Having tried previously to get on the Hastings District Council, a chance to advocate for local communities persuaded Jason Whaitiri to put his name forward in the Takitimu Māori Ward by-election.
The by-election is one of two for the Hastings District Council, the other being the Heretaunga Ward. The Takitimu Māori Ward seat became available when incumbent councillor Renata Nepe resigned, saying he now has full-time employment that would impact on his council responsibilities. Whaitiri is up against Heather Te Au-Skipworth, the IronMāori founder and former Te Pāti Māori candidate, who also happens to be his cousin. Also competing for the seat is Destiny Church Pastor Michael Ngahuka.
Whaitiri says that he and Te Au-Skipworth have had a long connection.
“We've had a long relationship, me and Heather, especially through sports. When I was playing rugby for Clive, she was there. I worked with her husband, Wayne, at Silver Fern Farms.”
Whaitiri, the brother of former Ikaroa-Rawhiti MP, Meka Whaitiri, said he had had “no inkling” of standing for the seat until his wife Shirlene suggested it.
“I was talking to my wife and we found out about obviously the two seats that are up, the Heretaunga Ward, which I have run in, and the Takitimu Ward. My wife just said, ‘Well, why don’t you give it a go?’“
“I was quite surprised. And then I asked my mum, my two biggest supporters are my wife and my mum.”
He says both suggested he “give it a crack” despite having stood three times previously.
Whaitiri says he is standing to advocate for communities in Hastings district.
“I want to advocate for our hapori, which is all our communities, our hapu and our marae in the Hastings Heretaunga District. I'm lucky, I've got connections to most maraes around here. I know a lot of people. I've been on boards and I've been a referee for 15 years.”
“And you know what refs are like. You've got to make decisions. And some of them on the spot. You’ll be a good manager or technical. I like to think I'm a bit of both.”
“ I suppose for the last maybe 20 years, I've been involved in different organisations, probably cutting my teeth in terms of governance. I did two terms, I did six years as a parent representative at the Clive Primary School.”
When his daughter started at Hastings Girls, he decided to stand and did four years on the board.
“ I have a good understanding of governance. So it's probably my turn to step up for my community. And then obviously the wider community.”
Whaitiri says that the National Party Government’s stance against Māori Wards has also motivated him to stand.
“Hopefully we can embed it going forward if it comes to referendum. So anything around Māori, our Matauranga Māori, our Māori knowledge, our Māori wisdom, those things are still in play. I'll be bringing that voice of our hapus and our maraes that sit in the Heretaunga Hastings district to the council table if I'm elected.”
Whaitiri says the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle on Hawke’s Bay has also prompted him to stand. He says that his community of Clive was one of the “fortunate ones”.
He says it is important now that the Hastings District Council looks at reducing its debt.
“As a rate payer for nearly 30 years, yeah, I understand every penny counts. But in saying that, they would've had to make some tough decisions.”
“For me, we have to make sure our infrastructure is sound and to make sure that there are better communications when something like this happens for our communities to be safe, to feel safe.”
Watch the accompanying video to see the full interview with Jason Whaitiri.
