Maude Maxwell Deputy Mayor & Māori Ward Councillor

03/08/2026

🌿 Ōpōtiki Rising: Your Voice, Our Future

Come along and experience one of Ōpōtiki’s most significant heritage sites through a unique bicultural journey of faith, reconciliation, and local history.

As part of the Ōpōtiki Rising community engagement series, Hiona St Stephens Anglican Church is opening its doors for a special Pilot Heritage Experience, offering the opportunity to learn more about the stories, people, and history that have helped shape our district.

📅 Thursday, 6 August 2026
🕔 5.00 pm – 6.30 pm
📍 Hiona St Stephens Anglican Church
128 Church Street, Ōpōtiki

Whether you’re a local resident, business owner, history enthusiast, or simply curious to learn more about our community, everyone is welcome.

This is an opportunity to:

* Hear the stories that connect our people and place.
* Experience the rich bicultural heritage of Ōpōtiki.
* Contribute to conversations helping shape our economic future.

RSVP:
📧 [email protected]
📞 027 201 3347

Nau mai, haere mai – all are welcome

30/07/2026

You ask, “Why do Māori think they have rights over the rest of the Kiwis?”

First, I want to ask: what kind of statement is that?

“Māori” and “the rest of the Kiwis” suggests that Māori are somehow separate from being Kiwi. Are you saying we are not New Zealanders too? That kind of language creates an “us and them” mindset before the conversation has even begun.

This is exactly why many Māori feel separated. It’s not because we seek division—it is because the language, systems, and attitudes we continue to encounter often place us in a separate category.

When Māori speak about kotahitanga, we are talking about unity. We are talking about standing together as one people while respecting the history, identity, and commitments that make Aotearoa unique. Unity does not require Māori to give up our identity, our culture, or the promises made through Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It asks all of us to recognise each other with dignity and respect.

If you genuinely want to understand why some Māori feel separated, look beyond the headlines and ask whether the words we use, the systems we build, and the decisions we make bring people together—or continue to reinforce the idea of “us” and “them.”

Perhaps the better question isn’t, “Why do Māori think they have rights?”

Perhaps it’s, “Why do we keep framing Māori as separate from everyone else?”

That is where the real conversation begins.

09/07/2026

A Question Worth Asking

As discussions continue around local government reform, there is one question I believe deserves careful consideration:

If larger councils are expected to deliver greater efficiency and lower costs for ratepayers, where is the evidence that demonstrates this?

This isn’t about being for or against reform. It’s about ensuring decisions of this scale are supported by clear evidence and transparent information.

Before significant changes are made, our communities deserve to understand:

* What are the expected financial benefits?
* What will the transition cost, and who will pay for it?
* How will local representation and community voice be protected?
* How will services improve for our communities?
* What evidence supports the proposed changes?

As an elected member, I believe it is our responsibility to ask these questions. Good governance is about making informed decisions based on facts, evidence, and the long-term interests of the communities we serve.

Our communities deserve the opportunity to understand both the opportunities and the challenges before any decisions are made. Asking questions is not about resisting change—it is about ensuring that any change delivers genuine benefits for the people who will live with the outcome.

He pātai nui tēnei mō tātou katoa. Let’s make sure the answers are as clear as the questions.

01/07/2026

📢 COMMUNITY INFORMATION UPDATE #7

🌿 Local Government Reform Update

Where Are We Up To?

Kia ora whānau,

I’ve had a number of people asking where we currently sit with the Government’s Local Government Reform process, so I thought I’d provide a simple update on where things are today.

Here’s where we currently are:

🟢 Community engagement has been taking place across the country, including here in Ōpōtiki, to hear what matters most to our communities.

🟢 Councils participating in the Head Start process are considering options and preparing high-level outline proposals.

📅 Outline proposals are due to the Government by 9 August 2026.

What happens after that?

➡️ The Government will assess the outline proposals received from participating councils.

➡️ It will then decide which proposals, if any, will move forward to a more detailed design phase.

➡️ If proposals progress, there will be further work, further community engagement, and more opportunities for people to have their say before any final decisions are made.

The key messages at this stage are:

✅ No final decisions have been made.

✅ No council structures have changed.

✅ This is an evolving process, and there are still several steps before any changes could occur.

As your Deputy Mayor and Māori Ward Councillor, my commitment is to continue providing factual updates, explaining the process in plain language, listening to your whakaaro, and keeping our community informed as more information becomes available.

I’d also like to acknowledge everyone who has taken the time to attend community meetings, complete surveys, ask questions, and engage respectfully in these conversations. Your participation is an important part of helping shape the future of our district.

I’ll continue to provide regular Community Information Updates so together we can better understand where we are in the process, what happens next, and what it could mean for Ōpōtiki.

Ngā mihi nui,

Maude Maxwell
Deputy Mayor | Māori Ward Councillor

Keeping our community informed, connected, and engaged. 🌿💚

⸻

🌿 Community Information Updates are intended to explain the local government reform process in plain language so our community can stay informed, ask questions, and participate in the conversation.

28/06/2026

🌿 Community Update – Sip & Scent with Jakob Carter 🌿

What a beautiful evening spent at the Sip & Scent workshop as part of the Ōpōtiki Rising – Your Voice, Our Future series.

A huge mihi to the amazing team at Ōpōtiki District Council, especially Joseph Hayes and Joel Hingston, for bringing together another fantastic community event. Thank you for creating opportunities that connect our community, support local enterprise, and inspire others to dream big. A special acknowledgement also to everyone working behind the scenes who helped make the evening such a success.

A very special mihi to our own local entrepreneur, Jakob Carter, for opening your doors and sharing your inspiring business journey. It was wonderful to hear how your vision, passion, and determination have grown into a successful local business. Thank you also for the hands-on candle-making experience and the opportunity to explore your beautiful fragrance collection.

It was an evening of learning, connection, creativity, and inspiration. Events like these remind us of the incredible talent we have here in Ōpōtiki and the importance of backing our local businesses and entrepreneurs.

I left with a beautiful candle, a deeper appreciation for the journey behind a successful business, and a real sense of pride in what our community continues to achieve.

Whaia te iti kahurangi, ki te tūohu koe, me he maunga teitei.
Seek the treasure you value most dearly; if you bow your head, let it be to a lofty mountain.

Ngā mihi nui to everyone involved in making the evening so memorable. Here’s to continuing to celebrate and support the amazing people who make Ōpōtiki such a special place. 💙

26/06/2026

📢 COMMUNITY INFORMATION UPDATE #6

🌿 Understanding the Process

Why Are We Having This Conversation?

Kia ora whānau,

Over the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing a series of Community Information Updates to help explain the Government’s local government reform process in plain language.

Many people have asked why this conversation is happening, so I thought we’d start at the beginning.

The Government is reviewing how local government operates across New Zealand to consider whether the current system is best placed to meet the needs of communities now and into the future.

As part of this review, councils have been invited to participate in what is known as the Head Start process. This provides councils with an opportunity to work together and submit a high-level outline proposal if they choose to.

At this stage, it’s important to remember:

✅ No final decisions have been made.

✅ This is the beginning of a conversation, not the end of one.

For me, the most important part of this process isn’t just the structure of local government—it’s our people and our communities.

These are some of the questions I believe are important for us to consider together:

🌿 How do we protect local voice?

🤝 How do we ensure iwi and hapū continue to have meaningful input?

🏡 How do we keep decision-making connected to our communities?

❤️ What makes Ōpōtiki unique, and how do we protect those strengths?

🌱 What do we want local government to look like for our tamariki and future generations?

As Deputy Mayor and Māori Ward Councillor, my role is to help keep our community informed, explain the process as it unfolds, listen to your whakaaro, and advocate for the interests of our district.

Over the coming weeks, I’ll continue sharing simple Community Information Updates to explain the process, the terminology, and the options being discussed, so our community can participate with confidence and understanding.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read these updates, ask questions, and engage respectfully.

💚 An informed community is an empowered community.

Ngā mihi nui,

Maude Maxwell
Deputy Mayor | Māori Ward Councillor

Keeping our community informed, connected, and engaged. 🌿

🌿 This Community Information Update is intended to explain the local government reform process in plain language so our community can stay informed, ask questions, and participate in the conversation.

20/06/2026

🌿 COMMUNITY UPDATE 🌿

What a wonderful evening celebrating Māori Enterprise and Wāhine in Business here in Ōpōtiki.

It was a privilege to hear the inspiring journeys of Te Kahukura Boynton, Awhina Kurei, and Joelle Bettridge as they shared their stories of courage, resilience, and entrepreneurship. Their kōrero reminded us that great things often begin with a dream, a willingness to take a chance, and the determination to back ourselves.

A special mihi to our own Māori Ward Councillor, Curley Keno, for guiding the evening as MC with warmth, humour, and mana, helping to create an atmosphere of connection and celebration.

A heartfelt thank you to Joseph Hayes, Antoinette Campbell, and the Ōpōtiki District Council team for bringing this incredible kaupapa to our community. Your commitment to creating opportunities for connection, learning, enterprise, and growth is truly appreciated.

To all the amazing kaimahi working behind the scenes—those preparing refreshments, welcoming guests, setting up, and ensuring the evening ran seamlessly—ngā mihi nui. Your manaakitanga and dedication played a huge part in the success of the event.

The positive energy and wisdom shared by these incredible wāhine toa was truly inspiring and a reminder that our community is rich with talent, innovation, leadership, and potential.

Events like these reinforce the importance of supporting local enterprise, celebrating success, investing in our people, and encouraging the next generation to dream big and believe in themselves.

“Whaia te iti kahurangi, ki te tūohu koe, me he maunga teitei.”

Seek the treasure you value most dearly; if you bow your head, let it be to a lofty mountain.

Ngā mihi nui to everyone who contributed to such a memorable evening. Together, we continue to build a thriving, connected, and resilient Ōpōtiki community, where the success of one becomes the inspiration of many. 🖤❤️🤍

Maude Maxwell
Deputy Mayor | Māori Ward Councillor

Keeping our community informed, connected, and engaged. 🌿💚

17/06/2026

📢 COMMUNITY INFORMATION UPDATE

🌿 Why Ōpōtiki Matters

Kia ora whānau,

Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the privilege of sharing information and engaging in conversations about the future of local government and what it could mean for our district. Through these discussions, one thing has become very clear to me – Ōpōtiki is a place worth celebrating and protecting.

For me, Ōpōtiki is more than a district on a map.

It’s our people.

It’s our whānau.

It’s our marae and hapū.

It’s our schools, businesses, sports clubs, churches, and community organisations.

It’s our whenua, our awa, our moana, and the rich history and culture that connects us to this place.

It’s our growers, farmers, fishers, local businesses, volunteers, and the many people who quietly give their time to make our community stronger.

It’s neighbours helping neighbours and communities coming together during times of celebration and challenge.

As we continue to have conversations about the future, I believe it’s important that we remember what makes our district unique and why local communities matter.

Our strength has always been our people, our resilience, and our ability to work together for the benefit of future generations.

💚 I’d love to hear from you.

What do you love most about Ōpōtiki?

Whether it’s a place, a memory, a person, our beaches, our marae, our community spirit, or simply the place you call home, I’d love you to share it below.

Whatever the future holds, I believe our community is strongest when we stay connected, support one another, and continue to celebrate the things that make Ōpōtiki special.

Ngā mihi nui,

Maude Maxwell
Deputy Mayor | Māori Ward Councillor

Keeping our community informed, connected, and engaged. 🌿💚

14/06/2026

☕🌿 SUNDAY KŌRERO WITH MAUDE 🌿☕

Kia ora whānau,

As we come to the end of another week, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on some of the positive things happening across our district.

This week has been a reminder of what makes Ōpōtiki such a special place to call home. We’ve celebrated local achievements, supported opportunities for learning and enterprise, and continued important conversations about the future of our community.

From recognising the success of our local apprentices to seeing initiatives like Ōpōtiki Rising bring people together through business, culture, and connection, it’s encouraging to see our district investing in its people and creating opportunities for everyone to be involved.

I’ve also appreciated the many conversations we’ve been having around local government and the future of our communities. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read, ask questions, and share your whakaaro. Respectful kōrero and community participation are important as we continue to navigate these discussions together.

As we head into a new week, I encourage everyone to continue supporting one another, celebrating local successes, attending community events, and taking opportunities to learn and connect.

Our strength has always been our people, our whānau, our hapori, and our willingness to work together for the good of our district.

Whatever this weekend has looked like for you, I hope you’ve had the chance to spend time with those who matter most and to appreciate the many things that make our community unique.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy week ahead.

Ngā mihi nui,

Maude Maxwell
Deputy Mayor | Māori Ward Councillor

Keeping our community informed, connected, and engaged. 🌿💚

13/06/2026

☕🌿 COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITY – ŌPŌTIKI RISING 🌿☕

Kia ora whānau,

It’s wonderful to see another opportunity for our community to come together, connect, and celebrate local enterprise and leadership.

As part of the Ōpōtiki Rising: Your Voice, Our Future kaupapa, an exciting event is coming up:

🌿 Māori Enterprise & Wāhine in Business

This inspiring afternoon will feature kōrero, connection, and local business stories, with Te Kahukura Boynton, author of Māori Millionaire, alongside MC Thomas Mitai and local panel members Awhina Kurei and Joelle Bettridge, who will share their own experiences, insights, and journeys.

📅 Saturday 20 June 2026
⏰ 4.00pm – 6.00pm
📍 Waiotahe Settlers Hall
🎟️ $10 per person

Ōpōtiki Rising has already brought our community together through a range of creative and engaging events, and it’s fantastic to see opportunities that celebrate entrepreneurship, wāhine leadership, innovation, and the strength of our local people.

Whether you’re in business, thinking about starting a new venture, supporting whānau in enterprise, or simply keen to hear some inspiring local stories, this promises to be a worthwhile afternoon.

Tickets are selling fast, so if you’re interested, you can find out more and secure your seat here:

https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2026/maori-enterprise-wahine-in-business/opotiki

🌿 Supporting local people, local ideas, and local opportunities helps build a strong future for Ōpōtiki and our wider communities.

Ngā mihi nui,

Maude Maxwell
Deputy Mayor | Māori Ward Councillor

Keeping our community informed, connected, and engaged. 💚🌿

Māori Enterprise & Wāhine in Business, Join us for an inspiring afternoon of kōrero, ..., Waiotahi Settlers Hall, Opotiki, Bay of Plenty, 20 June 2026,