Ōtara 'locked out' in stoush over local govt board leadership roles

Ōtara elected members say being refused any local board's leadership roles is like a "slap in the face" and broke a long-standing tradition of sharing the top positions between suburbs.

At the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board inauguration on Tuesday night, the newly elected Papatoetoe Action-Team used its four-seat majority to secure both the chair and deputy chair positions.

This left Ōtara’s three elected members without leadership roles for the first time since the Auckland Super City was formed in 2010.

Prior to the inauguration, Ōtara representatives - Apulu Reece Autagavaia, Topou Folau, and Li’amanaia Lorenzo Kaisara - said they had walked out of a meeting that morning over the issue.

Apulu, who chaired the board in the previous term, said the decision risked dividing the community and being a "tyranny of the majority".

“They had a choice to involve Ōtara. If they go ahead with this decision, they’re disrespecting Ōtara. They’re saying the people of Ōtara are an afterthought.”

Ōtara representatives re-elected for another term, Li'amanaia Lorenzo Kaisara, Topou Folau and Apulu Reece Autagavaia. Photo/PMN News/Mary Afemata

He said previous boards had deliberately shared the top roles to reflect the area’s two distinct communities of interest.

“When I was chair, we represented both Ōtara and Papatoetoe."

At the meeting, the Papatoetoe representatives voted for the same nominee, confirming Kushma Nair as chair and Paramjeet Singh as deputy chair for the full three-year term.

The decision prompted loud public outbursts and cries of “unfair” and “racist” from sections of the audience.

Supporters of Ōtara members stood and shouted as the votes were counted, accusing the Papatoetoe side of “locking Ōtara out.”

Friends and family attend the inauguration as Ōtara community members voice their hurt and disappointment over Ōtara representatives being shut out of leadership. Photo/PMN News/Mary Afemata.

Newly elected chair Kushma Nair told Local Democracy Reporting he understood the emotion in the room but asked the community to give the board time to prove itself.

“People in Ōtara should not feel that we will leave anybody out. We are here to serve everyone,” he says. “It doesn’t belong to one party or any other party, we are ratepayers the same as you. We have to work together to achieve things in our community.”

Nair says all members, new and returning, would need to collaborate to achieve results.

“We have the experience of the three Ōtara members on board, and with that combined knowledge, I think the board can achieve a lot,” he says.

“It’s our first meeting. Over time, things will gel once we start doing the work on the ground.”

Chair Kushma Nair signs his declaration as chair of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board. Photo/PMN News/Mary Afemata.

Prior to the meeting, Topou Folau, who was re-elected to the board, says the outcome ignored every opportunity to work together.

“It felt like we were told, ‘No, we’ll run things, you can support us to look good in front of the community.’”

Li’amanaia Lorenzo Kaisara, another re-elected board member, says it was a missed opportunity to showcase how they can work together, despite their political affiliations.

“I’m hurt for our people in Ōtara. I feel Ōtara has been belittled and not even considered in the leadership."

According to Autagavaia, since Auckland Council’s formation in 2010, the chair and deputy roles have traditionally been split between Ōtara and Papatoetoe subdivisions.

Community members, friends and families attend the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board inauguration at Manukau Civic Building to support the newly elected members. Photo/PMN News/Mary Afemata.

During the meeting, Ōtara members proposed sharing leadership, with each subdivision holding the chair for half the term, but were outvoted four-to-three by the Papatoetoe subdivision.

Fuli and Filipaina both addressed the meeting, acknowledging the tension but urging cooperation.

“People are hurt and worried about what the future looks like for them,” Fuli says.

“If the chair is from Papatoetoe, then the deputy should be from Ōtara to honour that unity."

Lotu says she and Filipaina would act as mediators.

Manukau Ward councillors Lotu Fuli and Alf Filipaina tell the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board they will act as mediators to help members find a way forward. Photo/PMN News/Mary Afemata.

“They can always change their minds in time once relationships build,” she says. “Alf and I will play that role, to help heal what’s happened and bring the board together.”

Papatoetoe Action Team spokesperson Kunal Bhalla says the decision followed due process and reflected voters’ will.

“The Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board represents one united community. While our subdivisions exist for electoral purposes, our work is for all residents, from Ōtara through to Papatoetoe,” he said. “Our focus is on outcomes, not boundaries.”

Bhalla said the Papatoetoe Action Team won all four seats in its subdivision, giving it a clear mandate for change.
“The election of a Chair and Deputy Chair is a democratic process among elected members, not a public vote. Within that framework, our team proposed both positions to ensure continuity and clear direction for the term ahead,” he said.

From left: Sandeep Saini, Kunal Bhalla, Chair Kushma Nair and Deputy Chair Paramjeet Singh at the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board inauguration. Photo/PMN News/Mary Afemata.

He acknowledged previous boards had shared leadership between the two suburbs but said there was no formal requirement to do so.

Bhalla said the team acknowledged former chair Apulu's service but believed in rotating leadership and valuing all members’ perspectives.

“The idea of ‘tyranny of the majority’ misrepresents a democratic outcome.

"The mandate for change came from the voters, and we intend to honour it through fair, inclusive governance."

The Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board is one of only a few in Auckland with formal subdivisions, created under the Super City reforms to protect distinct “communities of interest.”

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.