Whakatane District Council elected members will decide on whether or not to establish Maori Wards at an Extraordinary Council meeting on May 20.
The opportunity to again consider the establishment of Maori wards comes following the Local Electoral (Maori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Bill being passed at Parliament in February.
The recent changes to the Local Electoral Act removed any options for establishing Maori wards other than the Council resolving to have Maori wards.
Previously, local polls with five or more per cent of the voting population could overturn a council's decision to introduce Maori wards, which Whakatane District Council experienced in 2018, says a council spokesperson.
The change to legislation has set the deadline for councils to consider Maori wards to May 21.
"To inform its decision, Whakatane District Council's elected members have sought input from the Iwi Chairs Forum, which carries representatives of iwi that hold mana whenua in the Whakatane rohe," council says in a statement released this week.
"Council has also asked for feedback from the Youth Council and each of the four Community Boards within the Whakatane District.
"A public forum will be held at the start of Council's Extraordinary meeting on May 20 to enable members of the public to speak to the Mayor and Councillors ahead of making their decision."
In 2018, the then-Council voted in favour of establishing Maori wards following a public consultation process.
The decision then went to a public poll after Council received a petition signed by 1161 registered voters, and the binding poll determined that Maori wards would not proceed after 55 per cent of electors voted against Maori wards.
There are 29 councils across Aotearoa that are either required to undertake a representation review or have chosen to do a further review ahead of the 2022 elections.
Ten councils have already decided to establish Maori wards in time for the 2022 local elections, joining three councils that have already done so.
6 comments
A done deal
Posted on 11-05-2021 15:10 | By Kancho
As the government has stopped the rights for a referendum there is no democratic choice hear we are told what to think
There is no decision to be made
Posted on 11-05-2021 15:52 | By jed
It will happen regardless of what the majority thinks.
Decision already made!
Posted on 11-05-2021 15:59 | By Equality
I thought MaHuta had decreed that 'thou shalt have maori wards' -regardless what any ratepayers or councils might NOT want. Why are councils making a decision re maori wards when she has already made HER decision! She who rules has spoken!
No thank you
Posted on 11-05-2021 16:06 | By Andrew64
Get elected on the basis of your merits not on your race thanks very much.
Whichever way you slice it
Posted on 11-05-2021 16:40 | By Let's get real
When a decision is based on your race, creed or colour it must be opposed.... There can be no debate on that statement.
Already decided
Posted on 11-05-2021 16:42 | By Angels
If anyone out here has not figured out what is going on yet ??? Maybe you are the lucky ones?? This has been decided. No democracy required. We will be told what is happening by racial appointment.seat given by race not democracy. Just the start, let’s hope the next government will roll it all back out, back to democracy.
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