Further Councils Considering Establishing Māori Wards

Susan @DEMOCRACYACTION
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Apr 09, 2021
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< April 2021 newsletter

Further Councils Considering Establishing Māori Wards

Councils: Waipa, Hawke’s Bay, Horizons, Horowhenua, Hamilton

As mentioned in last month’s newsletter, the new Local Electoral (Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2021 extended the deadline for councils to consider Māori wards for the 2022 triennial local government elections to 21 May 2021. This has brought forward a flurry of proposals and votes.

Very rarely publicly discussed by the local bodies concerned is the number of Māori wards each territorial authority or regional council plans to introduce. Click here to download a spreadsheet outlining the total number of Māori wards for each Council. This spreadsheet was created by the Local Government Commission.

Below is a summary of local bodies who have recently announced they are considering the establishment of Maori wards.

Waipa: The Waipa District Council has opted to ask their community if they support the introduction of a Māori ward. Assuming no change to the current total membership of council, Waipa would have one Maori ward and 12 general population wards. The council has a page on their website which outlines what they are proposing and how to have your say. You will find a consultation document you can download at the bottom of the page. You have until 5pm Monday, 19 April 2021 for your submission. All the info is HERE.

NB: Waipa already has iwi representation in council. From late 2020, four iwi representatives, known as Te Kanohi, were appointed to four formal Committees of Waipā District Council to bring a Māori world view to each Committee and be a voice for mana whenua interests across the district. These representatives have voting rights on their respective Committees.

Hawke’s Bay: The Hawke's Bay Regional Council has also decided to undertake community consultation before establishing a Maori ward for the 2022 election. Assuming no change to the current total membership, the Hawke’s Bay would have two Maori wards and seven general population wards. You have until Thursday, 22 April 2021 for your submission. All the info is HERE.

Horowhenua: The Horowhenua District Council is seeking feedback for the introduction of a Māori Ward. The period for feedback closes at 5pm on Tuesday, 4 May 2021. You can have your say by completing an online survey at www.horowhenua.govt.nz/haveyoursay or emailing [email protected] (Please write ‘Māori wards feedback’ in the subject line). Alternatively, you can drop a completed feedback form to Council’s main office at 126-148 Oxford Street, Levin, or Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom or the Shannon Library.

Horizons: Horizons Regional Council originally decided not to implement Maori wards for the next election, but has since backtracked and agreed to investigate having Māori wards in time for the 2022 election. Assuming no change to the current total membership, the Horizons region (in the Manawatū-Whanganui area) would have two Māori wards and 10 general population wards. Chairwoman Rachel Keedwell is encouraging all councillors to collect as much feedback as possible, specifically from Māori in their areas, so the council could make an informed decision, which must be made by May 21.

See media coverage in Stuff: Horizons Regional Council changes stance on Māori wards, may have them by 2022

Hamilton: After making the decision just last week not to establish Māori wards for next year's local body election, the Hamilton City Council are to reconsider the introduction of Māori wards, but only after consultation with the community. Community engagement will be held from April 16 until May 10. A final decision will be made on May 19. N.B. The council has already introduced seats for five Māori representatives on council committees.

See media coverage in NZ Herald: Hamilton City Council to revisit Māori wards decision and Stuff: Hamilton City Council to reconsider Māori wards for 2022

As mentioned in last month’s newsletter, the following council’s are also seeking feedback on Māori wards for their areas:

Whakatane District Council by Friday, 30 April 2021.
Wellington City Council. It is recommended to provide feedback well before Thursday, 13 May 2021, which is when Council staff will report back to the Strategy and Policy Committee on the results of the engagement.
Invercargill City Council. Māori Ward’s to be considered at the performance, policy, and partnerships committee meeting on Tuesday, 11 May 2021. Please provide feedback well before this date.

PLEASE FORWARD THIS INFORMATION TO ANYONE YOU KNOW THAT LIVES IN THESE AREAS SO THEY CAN HAVE THEIR SAY TOO

Go back to the April 2021 newsletter

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Submission on the Canterbury Regional Council (Ngāi Tahu Representation) Bill

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Local Government update

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Government plans a local government system that actively embodies the Treaty partnership. On 23 April 2021 the Minister of Local Government established a review into the future for Local Government: “The overall purpose of the Review is, as a result of the cumulative changes being progressed as part of the Government’s reform agenda, to identify how our system of local democracy and governance needs to evolve over the next 30 years, to improve the wellbeing of New Zealand communities and the environment, and actively embody the Treaty partnership”. Continue reading

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Even though time and time again referenda have shown that most New Zealanders are opposed to race-based voting systems, 24 local authorities have recently either made the decision to proceed with Māori wards or have indicated an intention to do so. In addition to those mentioned in the April edition of the Democracy Action newsletter, the following have voted to proceed down this path: Continue reading

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Local Body Elections 2019

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Hastings District Council joins the Hall of Shame

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Good News - designated seats for Ngāi Tahu voted down

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Auckland Council’s ‘Our Water Future’ - Remember to have your say

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Auckland Council recently released a discussion document on developing ‘a water strategy to ensure a secure, sustainable, and healthy future for water in Auckland’. We covered this issue in the March update, but to briefly recap, as to the advancement of a co-governance agenda, concerns centre on the following statements: Continue reading

The Waikato District Council Blueprint Project

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It appears every act of special entitlement is simply used as a stepping stone to further power. We see an example of this in the Waikato District Council’s Blueprint project, with its pitch to build on the Joint Management Agreements and other agreements with iwi, and the proposal to appoint a ‘Maori Partnership Manager’ “to sit with the CE group, which will, appropriately, facilitate a “chief to chief” relationship” – with the assistance of an operational support person. There are only a few days left to have provide feedback. Go online to have your say by 5pm Monday 8 April. Continue reading

IS POSTAL VOTING UP TO SCRATCH?

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The integrity of our electoral system is critical to upholding our democratic system. However, the 2022 election exposed serious issues about the way we conduct local body elections. Continue reading

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The Ministry of Justice is currently reviewing our electoral law. The government-appointed Independent Electoral Review panel is inviting feedback on the future of our electoral system. Continue reading

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Urgent judicial review of discriminatory Rotorua Council Bill

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Locals campaign to restore democracy at Tauranga City Council

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Rotorua Lakes Council pushing for Māori co-governance

Apr 06, 2022

The Rotorua Lakes Council no longer believes in one person one vote, each of equal value. Instead, it believes that if you are not Māori, your vote should be worth less. The Council is currently pursuing a law change to enable an undemocratic representation model to be implemented. The model it prefers would consist of three Māori ward seats, three general ward seats, and four at-large seats. However, adopting this arrangement would give the 19,791 citizens on the Māori roll 2.6 times the voting power of the 51,618 citizens on the general roll. Continue reading

Time to Vote - Local Body Elections 2019

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The welcome reinstatement of a democratic right

Jul 01, 2024

A more democratic approach to Māori wards is being proposed by the government, one which would allow voters to challenge any decision made by councils regarding Māori wards through a binding poll. This proposal is outlined in the Local Government (Electoral Legislation & Maori Wards & Maori Constituencies) Amendment Bill. Continue reading

Democracy Action oral submission to Auckland Council re: designated Māori seats

Oct 02, 2023

Oral submission to the Auckland Council Governing Body on 2 October 2023 Good morning your worship Mayor Brown and Councillors. Thank you for this opportunity to share our views on the council’s proposal to introduce designated Māori seats. I am here representing Democracy Action – a group of citizens advocating for the protection of democracy and equality of citizenship. Continue reading

Auckland Council rejects Māori seat proposal

Oct 28, 2023

After an impassioned debate, Auckland Council voted 11-9 against establishing Māori seats at the 2025 local body elections. Instead, they accepted a proposal put forward by Mayor Wayne Brown to look at Māori representation as part of a wider governance review to be undertaken by a working party made up of councillors and local board members. The working party has been asked to report back to the governing body by 31 December 2024, thereby missing the deadline to establish Māori seats for the 2025 election. Continue reading

Kāpiti Coast Council proposes Māori ward

Oct 01, 2023

Kāpiti Coast District Council is seeking the community’s views on whether to establish a Māori ward. A Māori ward councillor would represent citizens on the Maori roll. Feedback closes at 5pm Friday 13 October. See: https://haveyoursay.kapiticoast.govt.nz/MaoriWard Continue reading

Māori seats for Auckland Council: Yes/No? Have your say

Sep 09, 2023

Citizens of Auckland - please take this opportunity to say whether you want the council to introduce Māori seats. Consultation closes at 11:59pm on Sunday 24 September 2023. Auckland Council is currently seeking feedback on their proposal to introduce up to three dedicated Māori seats. Continue reading

Aucklanders' views to be sought on Māori wards

Aug 10, 2023

Following preliminary engagement with iwi and urban Māori in 2022, Auckland Council will shortly be asking Aucklanders for their feedback on whether they support - or do not support - the introduction of a dedicated Māori seat/s on Council. Public consultation will run from 21 August until 24 September. Continue reading

No intention to consult with Auckland citizens on Māori wards

Apr 06, 2022

Auckland Council is about to engage with mana whenua and mātāawaka about the creation of dedicated Māori seats but have made no plans to consult with the wider Auckland community - even though one of the two models under consideration does not comply with the important democratic principle of proportionality. The adoption of one of the models - the recommendation put forward by the Royal Commission when the supercity was established - would allow for three dedicated seats, thereby increasing Māori representation to a level greater than their proportion in the population. Continue reading

Update on separate Māori representation on councils

Jun 04, 2021

Photo: Political lobbying - tikanga style Manawatū District Council chambers 20 May 2021 – how to turn a No to Māori wards vote to a Yes In a flurry of activity leading up to the final date to amend governance arrangements for the 2022 local body election, thirty-five councils have opted to establish Māori seats, some making an abrupt about-turn at the last minute after intense lobbying from iwi. Continue reading

Māori seats in local government a step to 50-50 power share

Jun 04, 2021

Photo: Andrew Judd hiding from a taniwha Before the ink has dried on the establishment of separate Māori seats on 38 councils, calls for "more equitable representation and a partnership with Māori" in a 50/50 power sharing model have arisen - not only from Māori sovereignty activists, but also from some councillors. Continue reading

Campaign to overturn direct democracy hots up

Nov 27, 2020

Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta is vowing to remove the public poll option when councils vote to create Māori wards. Mahuta, who retained the portfolio after the October general election, said she was "all ready to go once the government is formed". Continue reading

Compulsory Māori seats touted for Northland

Aug 03, 2019

Northland Māori are making a push for greater representation in local government, renewing calls for local Māori seats. Some say government intervention is necessary and that may include compulsory Māori seats. Pita Tipene of Ngāti Hine laments that local government legislation and processes are "shutting out our people". Continue reading

Maori wards supporters want to overturn the Māori ward poll law

Mar 08, 2018

In response to the binding poll in Palmerston North, a lobby group in the Palmerston North/Manawatu area has launched a campaign to promote the introduction of Maori wards, and to encourage voters to say "yes" to Māori wards in the upcoming referendums. A report on their campaign launch is available here. As well as campaigning to promote Māori wards, supporters want to overturn the law which enables voters to challenge any Māori ward decision through a binding poll. Continue reading

Countering The Campaign To Abolish The Poll Provision

Apr 04, 2018

Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ), along with the Green Party and ex-New Plymouth Mayor Andrew Judd, are agitating to remove those sections of the Local Electoral Act 2001 that allow for electors to vote on whether or not a city, district or region can establish Māori wards. Continue reading

Maori wards for local authorities?

Dec 07, 2017

Four more councils have voted to foster racial division - councillors in Palmerston North, Manawatu, Whakatane and Western Bay of Plenty districts have voted to proceed with separate Maori wards, doing so without consulting their constituents. It is now over to locals to demand a vote. Help is being sought to collect signatures for petitions to spark polls in these areas. Continue reading

Citizens Get To Vote On Maori Wards - Congratulations To All Concerned!

Mar 08, 2018

Thanks to the hard work of locals, in some cases with the support of the people at Hobson’s Pledge, all five councils that voted to introduce Māori wards, (i.e. Manawatu, Whakatane, Western Bay of Plenty, Palmerston North and Kaikoura), will now be polling their citizens in a binding referendum as to whether they support Māori wards for their area. See Hobson’s Pledge media release here.

LGNZ's Campaign to Abolish the Poll Provision

May 04, 2018

Local Government NZ (LGNZ) is campaigning vigorously to abolish the sections the Local Electoral Act 2001 which relate to the rules for binding citizens initiated polls concerning the establishment of Maori wards. The members of National Council of LGNZ want its members to be able to impose Maori wards unchecked - thereby depriving members of local communities of an individual democratic right expressly written into law. For a comprehensive and well researched essay on this issue, please click HERE. This essay, authored by Michael Coote - a freelance writer and financial journalist - was published on the NZCPR website on 22nd April. Michael explains what LGNZ is seeking, and the reasons why. Continue reading

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< April 2021 newsletter