Kaipara Mayor Craig Jepson Shuts Down Councillor's Karakia Request
November 30, 2022
PHOTO: Screenshot / Kaipara District Council
Just minutes into the council’s first meeting, Councillor Pera Paniora, of Te Moanaui o Kaipara Māori Ward, wanted to begin the meeting with a karakia.
“Excuse me, just before we start, through the chair may I say the karakia?”
Newly elected Kaipara Mayor Craig Jepson was quick to shut down Paniora’s request, arguing she “cannot interrupt, I’m sorry”.
But Paniora hit back, telling the Mayor “it is tikanga to start a meeting with a karakia”.
Mayor Jepson then gave an explanation as to why he wouldn’t allow the karakia to go ahead.
“This is a council that’s full of people who are non-religious, religious, of different ethnicities and I intend to run a secular council here which respects everybody and I will not be veering from that. Thank you.”