Bridget Bell

(Te Kōtui Reo - Local Marae Collective)

Phone: 027 220 6386
Email: B.3m3ry@me.com

We have come too far not to go further; we have done too much not to do more.

This election I encourage the Manawatū community to consider the benefits of representation and inclusion the Māori ward brings for all residents. We are a community who take tremendous pride in our relationships with Māori.

When Māori are at the decision-making table, our district grows stronger. We gain insight, connection, and solutions shaped by lived experience. Our marae, kura (schools), whānau (families) and iwi make significant contributions daily, socially, economically and culturally. Representation simply ensures those contributions are reflected in the decisions that shape our lives.

The outcome of the referendum is not about politics. It’s about people. It’s about community and our future together. A vote to keep the Māori Ward is a vote that says Māori are valued here in our Manawatū District and always will be.

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Kua tawhiti kē tō haerenga mai kia kore e haere tonu, he nui rawa ō mahi kia kore e mahi tonu.

I tēnei pōti, e akiaki ana ahau i a tātou o Manawatū kia whai whakaaro ki ngā painga o te Wāri Māori mō te katoa. He hapori e whakahīhī ana i ō tātou whanaungatanga.

Ka noho ana a Māori ki te tēpu, ka puta te māramatanga, ngā hononga me ngā hua i runga anō i te whakaaro kotahi ā, ka kaha kē atu tō tātou rohe. Ia te rā ka whai wāhi nui mai ngā marae, ngā kura, ngā tāngata ki ngā hua ā-hapori, ā-ōhanga, ā-ahurea hoki.

Ehara te Wāri Māori i te kaupapa tōrangapū, he kaupapa tangata, he kaupapa hapori kē, me tō tātou anamata. Ko te pōti kia mau tonu te Wāri Māori he tohu whakanui i tā Manawatū noho tahi ā, haere ake nei te wā.