Lower Hutt City Council

The Mayor of Lower Hutt, David Ogden, has proposed (the story is not online – Pg A8, DP 19 Jan) changing the city’s name to Kupe City and setting up a Maori only electoral ward.

I have no problems with the name change. Hell if I lived in Lower Hutt I’d support any name change. I have been a long standing fan of the proposal to rename Porirua City to Mana City.

But having electoral wards based on race is quite simply wrong and very bad for New Zealand. It is divisive nonsense.