“We are not against Māori wards” — comforting words from Prime Minister “Lucky Luxon”.  

Words on anything Māori are as volatile today as in the era of Governor Grey, when he ordered the invasion of Waikato to destroy Māori representation through the Kīngitanga.   

Māori ratepayers must have credible representation. It must be credible enough to rectify “The Grey Street Gamble”.   

If Gisborne District Council would like to improve that experiment, it could start with supporting a name change. I suggest a rename to Kiri Te Kanawa Street. I understand the world-famous Kiri once lived along there. 

The days of celebrating harmful, discredited colonial officials must surely now be over, or are we all still too colonised? 

Ian Procter