MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday June 14, 2007
Attention: All chief reporters, Maori affairs reporters

Councillor is uninformed says Te Arawa elder

Rotorua councillor Maureen Waaka should think before she passes comment on Ngati Uenukukopako's appeal against the Rotorua District Council and its airport company's proposals to turn the airport into an international facility, a Te Arawa koeke (elder) says.

Te Pohawaiki Wiringi-Jones said it was disappointing to hear comments from Cnr Waaka on Radio Waatea on June 12 implying the Te Arawa hapu's appeal only had the support of a "few"; that it was okay to use the hap¨± as a sacrificial lamb so Rotorua's local economy could progress; and that the consultation and submission process was adequate.

"Cnr Waaka's statements are absolutely uninformed ¨C she has never been to any of our hui, seen first hand the amount of support we have from our people or even asked us about our view of the process," Mr Wiringi-Jones said.

"If she had of done this, she would not be putting her council and its airport company on a pedestal.

"While we respect her statement that a number of Maori in council have sympathy for our hap¨±, we really don't need their pity, what we need is for them to look long and hard at the disastrous impacts the proposals will have on us."

"We are available to talk with Cnr Waaka, we always have been.

"There's going to be a lot that comes out over the next few months on this issue that we believe even she will be surprised with."

ENDS

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