There is a new councillor in Hastings who has refused to attend a council strategic planning meeting because it was held at a marae. This piqued my attention. I was interested to read if he had managed to come up with any reason more novel than the usual trite bovine manure these people have traditionally trotted out. But, sadly not.
Here is his first defence. He refused to attend because he was “not comfortable participating in council business where religious or spiritual practices form part of formal proceedings”.
From time immemorial councils have begun proceedings with a prayer. As with karakia, at the beginning of any meaningful discussion the intent is to provide space where participants might put aside distractions and focus on the matters at hand.
While prayers generally call upon a single god to guide the thinking, I have found karakia to suggest a more holistic approach that requires the individual to reflect upon their own response rather than palming it off to an entity one may or may not believe in.
I know which approach I prefer.
He then contradicts himself by claiming that “references to beliefs that are not consistent with my own Christian faith make it an uncomfortable environment for me to participate in council business”.
What sort of ethnocentric entitled tripe is that?
Are not councils charged with a responsibility to take care of all in their communities regardless of colour or creed? Does he not realise that white middle-class “Christians” have become minorities in many communities in Aotearoa?
He seems to lack the foresight and flexibility to be able to adjust to his surroundings in order to participate in one of the most fundamentally important aspects of a governing body’s work – which is to set the strategic direction.
He complains further that the venue had changed from a local historic homestead (many of which in New Zealand are built on confiscated land and hardly “neutral venues”) to a local marae.
Then to top it all off he proclaims that “at times taking a short-term stand is necessary to achieve better long-term outcomes and stronger governance”!!!
By refusing to participate in one of the most important discussions a governing body can have this bloke demonstrates he knows little about good governance. He has demonstrated his lack of tolerance for a significant section of most communities in New Zealand, and he has selectively used his Christian faith to justify his short-sighted but clearly politically expedient actions.
I was relieved to read that he only came third in the mayoral race but alarmed to note that he was the highest polling councillor in the Hastings election.
He stands as a shining example of the vagaries of the democratic process, as one of those in the half informed and outspoken minority who hog the airtime and bring the whole institution of local government into disrepute.
And he doesn’t come across as a particularly flash ambassador for Christianity either.