Mayor acknowledges 'unease' around Kumagaya invite
Invercargill Mayor Nobby Clark has confirmed it was his decision to invite Michael Skerrett on the trip to Japan ahead of the council’s official mana whenua appointees Evelyn Cook and Pania Coote.
Invercargill Mayor Nobby Clark’s decision to invite Michael Skerrett on a recent Kumagaya trip - ahead of the council’s official mana whenua representatives - was done because of Skerrett’s experience working alongside different cultures, he says.
An Invercargill delegation visited sister-city Kumagaya last month.
Clark, deputy mayor Tom Campbell, councillors Trish Boyle, Alex Crackett, Darren Ludlow, and Barry Stewart, as well as an interpreter and one council staff member, attended.
Kumagaya Friendship Association representatives Don Moir and Joe Bagrie were also part of the delegation at their own cost and iwi covered Michael Skerrett’s trip.
Clark confirmed it was his decision to invite Skerrett on the trip ahead of the council’s official mana whenua appointees Evelyn Cook and Pania Coote.
He acknowledged there was “unease” from some on the back of that decision but felt Skerrett was an ideal fit for the various duties in Kumagaya.
“He’s very knowledgeable, he approaches different cultures really, really well. When the Japanese were here earlier in the year, they were most impressed we took them for a meal and formal welcoming at the Bluff Marae. They were super impressed.
“They really relate to [Skerrett], he is quietly spoken but very respected by them. The Japanese are very respectful of the elders.”
Skerrett is a prominent Ngāi Tahu kaumatua.
Clark said he also offered a spot in the delegation to the Awarua Rūnanga suggesting they might like to put up an option of someone “a wee bit younger”.
“I was prepared to take two - and I drew a blank. They declined the offer to send somebody. That is their call.”
In June Clark acknowledged he had a “fractured relationship” with one of the local Rūnaka but declined to publicly confirm which Rūnaka he was alluding to.
Great choice Nobby!