Lyndon HūhanaHŪHANA LYNDON (Green): E Tukituki ana te iwi Māori me ngā kaunihera puta noa i Aotearoa i ēnei mahi rāweke o te Kāwanatanga.[The Māori people and the councils throughout New Zealand are clashing due to the tampering done by the Government.]It is a dark day for local government when we see this overreach of the central government into local decision-making. The uptake of Māori wards across the country—some 45 councils—demonstrates grassroots tautoko for Māori wards and I say bring it on. Bring it on because Māori voice adds to the discussion and the decision making in our local communities.I bring to this debate a Tai Tokerau perspective. As a hapū and iwi kaimahi I worked alongside local communities Iwi Māori and council allies to advocate for the adoption of Māori wards. I mihi to Nanaia Mahuta for her foresight and leadership—the enabler who paved the way for the adoption of Māori wards and I quote Kelly Stratford in 2021 councillor of Far North District Council who said the introduction of Māori wards is a step towards repairing broken Crown relationships and rebuilding Iwi Māori trust in local government. Tēnā koe Auntie Kelly.Generations of Māori have had barriers to participation and representation in local government. We've got a deep mistrust for both central and local government. We have tried to seek representation as Iwi Māori on the local government decision-making tables mai rānō. Now it's argued that councils haven't been representing local community voices in their decision to take up Māori wards. But I argue in their representation reviews in 2021 they did. Taranaki Regional Council went out and said Have your say." Far North District Council in 2021 went out and polled the community. They received 499 submissions of which 82 percent responded supporting the adopting of Māori wards within Far North District Council.Now on 4 May in 2021 we gathered in Far North District Council to watch the decision making of local government and Waihoroi Shortland the chair of Ngāti Hine stood and said "In the North where this nation was born we are going to set the example not wait for Government to come down and tell us what to do because we will have the courage to do it for ourselves. We will have the courage to work together as promised through Te Tiriti o Waitangi." Anaru Kira from Whangaroa stood and he spoke to Far North District Council and he encouraged Māori wards would help bring the views and aspirations of whānau and hapū to the decision-making table. So 45 councils have adopted Māori wards to date. We're only starting the journey—give it a chance. There's been a huge uptake. It is mainstream. It is mainstream to have Māori wards at the decision-making table. It's a plus-plus for councils to have Māori wards. You get both skills and experience and you get the tirohanga Māori at the decision-making table. It's like us having Māori seats in central government—why can't we do it in local government? Let's advocate for more. Let's encourage hapū and iwi representation in standing committees. Let's continue on the journey of Māori representation in local government.Now the Waitangi Tribunal has already reported that there is a clear breach in Te Tiriti o Waitangi in the decision made by this Government and I'd like to remind us that removing Māori wards tramples on Te Tiriti o Waitangi and deprives us as Iwi Māori to have a voice in local representation and decision making. Kia ora tātou."