Praneeta Mahajan
Hamilton, May 7, 2024
In a heartfelt decision, Hamilton’s Māori Ward Councillor Melaina Huaki has tendered her resignation from the Hamilton City Council, effective immediately, citing health concerns. Elected as one of Hamilton’s inaugural Māori Ward Councillors in the 2022 elections, Ms Huaki’s departure leaves a notable void in the council’s representation.
Prioritising health and family
In her statement, Ms Huaki expressed the difficulty of her decision, emphasising the privilege it has been to represent Kirikiriroa. She underscored the importance of prioritising her health and family at this time, affirming her belief that stepping down was the right choice. She eagerly awaits the election of her successor, expressing confidence in the voters of the Kirikiriroa Ward to select a worthy representative.
Ms Huaki said, “I worked with staff to assess my options, but I need to prioritise my health at this time. This was the right thing to do for me, my whānau and the city. I look forward to seeing who our Kirikiriroa ward voters elect to take on this great responsibility.”
Invaluable contribution
Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate, acknowledging Ms Huaki’s departure, praised her invaluable contributions to both the council and the city. She highlighted Ms Huaki’s passionate advocacy and her commitment to ensuring the voices of tangata whenua were heard in council deliberations.
She particularly lauded Ms Huaki’s support for initiatives like the Tuia Māori leadership mentoring program, recognising her dedication to nurturing the next generation of leaders.
Mayor Southgate Said, “I also thank Melaina for her strong support of the Tuia Maaori leadership mentoring programme, under the Mayor’s Taskforce for Jobs, and her dedicated mentoring of rangitahi during her tenure. I have no doubt she has made a positive impact on the lives of those she mentored. I fully support that she is putting her health and whaanau first, and wish her all the very best.”
By-elections announced
The Hamilton City Council has announced plans for a by-election to fill the vacant Hamilton Māori Ward seat left by Ms Huaki’s resignation. The timing of the by-election will be determined in an upcoming council meeting. It is emphasised that recent changes to Māori Ward legislation by the coalition government will not impact the by-election process.
Hamilton is gearing up for its second by-election in less than three months to fill the vacant Māori ward seat.
The recent flurry of electoral activity began in February 2024 when a by-election was necessitated by the departure of former Hamilton city councillor Ryan Hamilton, who secured a seat in Parliament during the October general election.
Following the by-election in February, Tim Macindoe assumed the role of councillor after being sworn in on February 20, 2024. Now, with another vacancy in the Māori ward, the city is once again preparing to engage in the democratic process to ensure continued representation for its residents.
Praneeta Mahajan is an Indian Newslink reporter based in Hamilton.
