NPDC infighting drags on after speaker clash

TL;DR

Infighting at New Plymouth District Council escalates after a public speaker's offensive presentation on Taranaki history at the engagement committee meeting.
Deputy Chair John Woodward terminated Ivan Howe's talk on iwi land claims under standing orders, despite Chair Murray Chong's reluctance.
Public clash sees Chong accuse Woodward of railroading him, while Woodward calls it false and defends acting on staff advice.

The story at a glance

Tensions boiled over following the New Plymouth District Council's Public Engagement Committee meeting on 8 April 2026, where speaker Ivan Howe claimed iwi were misleading councillors on history and questioned Māori indigeneity, prompting his presentation to be cut short as offensive. Deputy Mayor Murray Chong (committee chair) defended letting it continue and later accused deputy chair Councillor John Woodward of railroading him, sparking public statements from Woodward rejecting the claim. The article reports on this ongoing fallout, now in media and social channels.[[1]](https://www.ngamotunews.co.nz/2026/04/11/deputy-mayor-in-the-spotlight-again-for-facilitating-maori)[[2]](https://www.npdc.govt.nz/media/hq4lhw15/ecm_9742661_v2_public-engagement-committee-minutes-8-april-2026.pdf)

Key points

Meeting held 8 April 2026; speakers addressed varied issues like boat ramps, rail, trees, but Howe's slot on "Early Taranaki history and its impact on Council decision making today" drew ire.[[3]](https://www.npdc.govt.nz/media/f2jnpn1i/ecm_9752103_v1_public-engagement-committee-agenda-8-april-2026.pdf)[[2]](https://www.npdc.govt.nz/media/hq4lhw15/ecm_9742661_v2_public-engagement-committee-minutes-8-april-2026.pdf)
Howe said iwi give advice councillors can't counter, land between Onaero and Urenui was sold not confiscated, all NZ groups are settlers; Te Waka McLeod objected online as incorrect, citing 1996 Waitangi Tribunal report.[[4]](https://www.teaonews.co.nz/2026/04/11/new-plymouth-councillors-rebuff-pulling-the-wool-iwi-history-claim)
Staff and Woodward urged Chong to stop it; Chong ignored, saying post-meeting it's "all true and people need to hear it"; Woodward then halted it under Standing Order 16.2 for being offensive.[[5]](https://www.facebook.com/61576019350795/posts/public-statement-response-to-the-attached-daily-news-article-11th-april-2026yest/122173335134867311)
Mayor Max Brough thanked Woodward after, defended Chong overall but found talk offensive; video spread online, drawing public concern.[[1]](https://www.ngamotunews.co.nz/2026/04/11/deputy-mayor-in-the-spotlight-again-for-facilitating-maori)
Chong told Taranaki Daily News he was "railroaded," rejected "pro-cancel culture"; Woodward's Facebook response called it a false attack on his integrity, noting prior staff warnings ignored.[[5]](https://www.facebook.com/61576019350795/posts/public-statement-response-to-the-attached-daily-news-article-11th-april-2026yest/122173335134867311)

Details and context

The Public Engagement Committee, chaired by Deputy Mayor Chong with Woodward as deputy, lets public speak up to 10 minutes on issues; it's new post-2025 elections, meant to boost openness amid ratepayer pushback on council spending and iwi influence.[[6]](https://www.npdc.govt.nz/council/news/2025/november/npdc-deputy-mayor-and-committee-structure-confirmed)

Howe's claims clash with settled history: Crown inquiries found 1865 Taranaki confiscations unjust, leading to iwi Treaty settlements; council records these for decisions.[[4]](https://www.teaonews.co.nz/2026/04/11/new-plymouth-councillors-rebuff-pulling-the-wool-iwi-history-claim)

Fallout highlights divides in the council's "new team" – some back free speech on hot topics like co-governance, others stress procedure and respect; staff flagged risks beforehand but Chong overruled.[[5]](https://www.facebook.com/61576019350795/posts/public-statement-response-to-the-attached-daily-news-article-11th-april-2026yest/122173335134867311)

Key quotes

Cr John Woodward (deputy chair): "Murray, shut him down." (meeting directive)[[5]](https://www.facebook.com/61576019350795/posts/public-statement-response-to-the-attached-daily-news-article-11th-april-2026yest/122173335134867311)
Murray Chong (chair, post-meeting to Woodward): "It’s all true and people need to hear it."[[5]](https://www.facebook.com/61576019350795/posts/public-statement-response-to-the-attached-daily-news-article-11th-april-2026yest/122173335134867311)
Murray Chong (Taranaki Daily News): Claimed Woodward "railroaded" him, opposed "pro-cancel culture."[[1]](https://www.ngamotunews.co.nz/2026/04/11/deputy-mayor-in-the-spotlight-again-for-facilitating-maori)

Why it matters

Divisions over handling public input on sensitive topics like iwi history risk eroding trust in council governance and decision-making. Councillors and ratepayers face ongoing friction in meetings meant for better engagement, potentially slowing local issues like planning. Watch council's full response or next committee meeting for procedural changes, though no formal review is confirmed.