Ruapehu District councillors are to hold a workshop to help decide whether to open meetings with a karakia or any prayer, after a councillor walked out in protest at a karakia.
Let us pray? Does prayer/karakia have a place in politics?
14 May, 2021 05:00 PM
4 minutes to read
Some form of prayer occurs many council meetings. Photo / 123RF
Laurel Stowell is a reporter for the Whanganui Chroniclelaurel.stowell@whanganuichronicle.co.nzWhangaChron
Following the decision of Ruapehu District councillor Adie Doyle to walk out of a meeting during an opening karakia,
Laurel Stowell asks local representatives about the place of prayer and karakia in politics.
Adie Doyle s fellow Ruapehu councillor Elijah Pue has been saying karakia to start meetings for four or five months.
He said that was at the request of mayor Don Cameron.
Ruapehu councillor walks out of meeting over karakia
13 May, 2021 04:24 AM
3 minutes to read
Councillor Adie Doyle leaves the Ruapehu District Council chamber for the duration of the karakia. Photo taken from Ruapehu District Council livestream.
Councillor Adie Doyle leaves the Ruapehu District Council chamber for the duration of the karakia. Photo taken from Ruapehu District Council livestream.
Moana is a Local Democracy Reporter based in Whanganuimoana@awafm.co.nz
A Ruapehu district councillor refused to stay in the room for a 12-second karakia to open a council meeting.
Taumarunui councillor Adie Doyle stopped an opening of a full council meeting immediately after mayor Don Cameron asked councillor Elijah Pue to open the meeting, as he has done regularly in recent months.
Councillor Adie Doyle leaves the Ruapehu District Council chamber for the duration of the karakia.
Photo: Supplied
Taumarunui councillor Adie Doyle stopped an opening of a full council meeting immediately after Mayor Don Cameron asked councillor Elijah Pue to open the meeting, as he has done regularly in recent months.
Doyle said he was uncomfortable with opening a public meeting with any formal system of belief, whether it was a karakia, a Hail Mary or an Our Father .
While he said he respected everybody s right to a belief system, he asked the Mayor to respect his right not to be present for the karakia and excused himself from the room.