Sio Su'a William: Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill — In Committee 
Sio Su'a William: Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:657;Page:6422] 
SU’A WILLIAM SIO (Labour—Mangere) 
: 
 I think Labour has stated clearly that we are not opposed to the reform of the Auckland region. In fact we have asked for it. But we are saying to the Government that the process is flawed and undemocratic and I emphasise that it is not visionary enough. There might be a vision in the structure for businesses but there is no vision for the rest of the population. 
I stated in my second reading speech on the Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill that the Auckland region is home to 1.4 million people and about 180 different ethnic groups and it has the highest Maori population anywhere in New Zealand. In Mangere alone 20 percent of the population are of Maori heritage and about 60 percent of the population are of Pacific heritage. Maori Pacific and Asian communities are asking where the vision is. They are asking where they fit into this structure. They are asking where they are being included in the future structure of the Auckland region. Labour believes in having a Maori voice on the Auckland Council. It is about providing a positive vision for the people. It is about taking everyone along. It is about setting good leadership for that region to aspire to. 
I ask members opposite whether they are familiar with these names: Ngapuhi Waikato Ngati Porou Ngati Maniapoto Tuhoe Te Rarawa Te Arawa Ngati Whatua Tainui Ngati Tuwharetoa and Ngati Kahu. Those are the iwi that the people of Mangere are affiliated to. I ask members opposite whether they are familiar with these names: Te Aupouri Ngati Awa Te Whanau-a-apanui Ngati Kuri Ngai Tahu Kai Tahu Ngati Te Rangi Ngati Paoa Ngati Kahungunu ki te Wairoa Ngati Wai Ngati Raukawa Whakatohea Ngati Pikiao Te Atiawa Ngati Ruanui Te Tai Tokerau Ngati Maru and Ngati Whakaue. Those are all the hapu that people in Mangere are affiliated to. I ask Government members whether they acknowledge the existence of these people. Do they acknowledge that they have a place in the future of Aotearoa New Zealand? If so they need to heed the voice that has declared to me and many other MPs in Auckland that Maori want their own voice in the new super-city governance structure. 
Although I am proud to represent the 20 percent of Maori who reside in Auckland I am fully aware that I am not Maori. Maori want their own voice. Members say that Maori issues are hard but they caved on Mr Hide’s tantrum. It was so easy. He had only to say the word and members caved in to him. Mr Henare has called Mr Hide a buffoon and a jerk-off but what will he do about it? What will he do about supporting Maori seats? Nothing. I have asked him to cross the floor. Both Mr Henare and Mr Hide ought to be sent to boot camps. 
It is true that there have been Maori on the different city councils of our Auckland region but they are elected from small wards. I will give members an example. Otara with a population of about 35000 has had Maori councillors. Councillor Kuku Wawatai was for many years the deputy mayor of Manukau City. Councillor Reuben Wiki represented the Otara ward in Manukau City for many many years. But those Maori councillors came from small wards where there was a large Maori population that recognised that those people provided good leadership in those small communities.