Marlborough Māori ward - Blenheim Ward Candidates

What are your thoughts on the Marlborough Māori ward?

John Hyndman

The Māori Ward (like the Māori Parliamentary seats) is undemocratic. Māori aspirations in Marlborough can be achieved without political influence based on ethnicity.

Tamsin Cooper

I am for the Māori Ward. It strengthens our democracy by ensuring fair representation and honours the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. A Māori voice at the Council table is good for Marlborough and benefits the whole community.

Dominique Greenslade

I am against the Marlborough Māori Ward: the Māori people are very well represented in Parliament like us all! They have the right (like us) to use or learn their own tongue and follow their own way of living. New Zealand is now made of many nationalities who have decided to come and live here for one reason ONLY: to be treated the same and be united as ONE PEOPLE!

Brian Dawson

The Māori Ward brings a lot of value to Council. Our population and workforce is changing and will increasingly be Māori and Pacifica. Iwi are major players in Marlborough with assets totalling hundreds of millions of dollars. As a community we need to ask ourselves is it smart to be close to the future or our population and workforce and close to the influence of Iwi. For me the answer is yes on both counts.

Ben Stace

This is not an issue I have strong feelings about, but I am glad there's a democratic vote on the issue. If it is removed I feel our local Iwi groups are able to stand candidates in the other wards anyway.

Vish Prasad

I support the Māori Ward. I’ve got countless Māori friends who’ve been incredibly good to me, and I’d much rather work with them than against them. A Māori Ward gives iwi a clear voice at the table, strengthens relationships, and helps us work together on real challenges like flooding, land use, and community wellbeing.

Buks Lundt

The people of Marlborough will decide, I personally am against any token appointments. It is an insult to Māori to suggest they are not capable to stand independently.

Thelma Sowman

I am not opposed to having Māori representatives on council.  In fact Marlborough District Council has had Māori representation positions available on all three main committees for at least 25 years.

Aimee Payne

I fully support retaining our Māori Ward, Honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi isn’t just about consultation, it’s about giving tangata whenua real decision-making ability and a genuine seat at the table. Māori representatives bring lived experience and a kaupapa Māori approach that strengthens how Council thinks about community, environment, and wellbeing.  The Ward also helps begin to address long-standing imbalances in our political system, ensuring everyone has what they need to participate fully. It’s good governance, it protects ratepayers and ensures decisions reflect the needs of all our communities.

Deborah Dalliessi

I will be bound by the local referendum on Māori wards as representation should be chosen by the people directly not imposed.

David Croad.

I’m not going to answer the question directly as the decision is in the hands of the community through the referendum, what I do respectfully ask however, is that people read the Local Government Act to understand the responsibilities the council has to Iwi/Māori through the legislation.

Cathie Bell

This is a decision voters get to decide on through a referendum, and I will live by whatever decision they make. Personally, I’m in favour of a Māori ward.

Nyara Nyajena

I support fair and inclusive representation. The Māori Ward is a way to ensure Māori voices are heard at the decision-making table, consistent with our Treaty obligations.

Cyril Dawson

Democracy will determine the Māori ward. Anyone can run for council - I am.