Vote Sheila Taylor – #1

Our whakapapa will always call us to serve – however we can. We know that our people need stronger pathways into council decision-making, as too many times we have seen good Māori initiatives blocked by processes that don't understand us. Council needs someone who understands both worlds - te ao Māori and council systems. We have seen how meaningful change happens when Māori perspectives are genuinely included from the beginning, and our tamariki mokopuna deserve leaders who will protect their taonga tuku iho.

We need to ensure Te Tiriti principles are lived, not just talked about in council chambers and in service delivery. Our ancestors didn't fight for our rights so we could be shut out of decisions about whenua and wai. We need to create stronger connections between council and our marae, our hapū, our whānau. Our hapori have the solutions - council just needs to listen and enable. This is about whakatōhea - bringing our people together to build the future we want.

Someone needs to stand at that table and ensure Māori development is supported, not hindered.

Someone needs to turn up and be accountable.

It's time for council to work with us, not around us.