CR APOLOGIES, WELL SORT OF

 The Kaipara Lifestyler has reported that a WDC councillor has apologised for posting an AI-generated image showing a human body (representing the Kaipara District Council) being dismembered into cuts of meat and cannibalised by the WDC and FNDC.

The comment “Knives being sharpened as the menu now has a mains on the list, being KDC” was posted to the Kaipara District Council’s official Facebook page by Cr Paul Yovich, the Chairman of the WDC Finance Committee, and given a Like by Cr Brad Flower, Chairman of the Infrastructure Committee.

EMBEDDING TE TIRITI

According to Te Ao Māori News, the Whangārei District Council (WDC) has moved a step closer to embedding the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi across the organisation.

The proposal now before councillors stems from recommendations arising from a “Te Tiriti o Waitangi health check.” As reported in LETTERBOX #30, the audit was commissioned by the council’s Māori Outcomes Department without the knowledge or prior approval from councillors, for $77,293 funded from “spare” money.

The stated purpose of the Treaty of Waitangi “health check” was to help councillors better understand their “obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and He Whakaputanga,” assess the state of relations between the council and Māori, and provide recommendations for improvement.

Couper outspends all others

Four mayoral candidates collectively spent just over $107,000 pursuing the top job. Mayor Ken Couper (who defeated the incumbent Vince Cocurullo by 435 votes) was the campaign’s big spender at $43,447, followed by Brad Flower $35,018, Vince Cocurullo $19,151, and  Marie Olsen $9,917.

On a per-vote basis, Flower’s votes cost $5.93 each, Couper $3.50, Cocurullo $1.60, and Olsen $1.19.

WDC Mayor accepts referendum result, but...

 

In a statement made to the Bream Bay News (23 October 2025), Mayor Ken Couper said, “He would be respecting the result of the referendum where the majority of voters in the Whangarei District said they wanted the Council to discontinue its Maori ward, but he would be looking for other ways to strengthen the relationship with these groups.”

Having voted both for the Maori ward and against giving the public a say, we appreciate Ken Couper would be disappointed that voters have rejected his position. However, it is completely unacceptable that he now intends to disregard the clear public will and pursue 'other ways' to ensure Maori influence at the council table. We would not be surprised if he intends to appoint unelected iwi representatives with full voting rights to council committees.