3 Sep 2013

Mayoral candidate sticks to her guns

6:46 pm on 3 September 2013

A Rotorua Mayoral candidate is sticking to her idea of the city being run by tangata whenua, despite reservations by a Te Arawa elder.

Janine Rangimarie Bosma, one of five people running for mayor, wants the council replaced by a Maori governing body.

But Te Arawa kaumatua Toby Curtis, who is part of a tribal drive to help descendants who are vying for local body elections, says if a council will not be effective if it does not represent the diversity of its citizens.

Despite that, Ms Bosma - who says her tipuna [ancestors] never signed the Treaty of Waitangi - is standing by her idea and says why not try it.

Ms Bosma says Dr Curtis has his point of view and she has her own, and now she wants to know what the public think about her idea.

But she is also keen to take part in the tribal campaign, which Dr Curtis says will comprise a series of hui to support candidates with their campaigns, as well as their pamphlets and wording.