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.
Under the terms of the bill the 45 councils that imposed Māori wards once polls were banned by former Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta in 2021, must decide whether to disestablish them, overturn their decision, or face a Māori wards’ poll during the 2025 local body elections.
However, many mayors and regional chairs are very resistant to the idea of letting their communities decide. Local Government NZ (LGNZ) expressed their opposition to the proposed changes in a letter sent to the government on 22 May. This letter was signed by 50 Mayors and Regional Chairs, (with an additional two signatures from LGNZ's Māori advisory group), in which they urged the government to reconsider their position “and leave it to local councils to make decisions about appropriate representation arrangements in partnership with iwi and their communities”. You can read their letter by clicking HERE.
This sentiment is not shared by former councillor Frank Newman, who, in response to the LGNZ letter comments that reinstating the petition right actually strengthens local democracy. “Democratic fairness dictates that electors should have the final say about how their representatives are elected”. See: Frank Newman: The Letter from Mayors & Chairs
Auckland Council votes to also oppose the Bill
Although Mayor Brown of Auckland City did not sign the LGNZ letter, at the May 30 Governing Body meeting the council agreed to submit in opposition of the reinstatement of the requirement to hold binding polls on whether to establish Māori wards. Additionally, the council asked for an amendment to the legislation to provide for Māori seats on local boards. See Item 17 in the meeting minutes for a list of who voted for and against the resolution.
Auckland members, we urge you to send your thoughts on this decision made by council to Mayor Brown and your councillor/s. Their email addresses and phone numbers are available on the council website.
Thirty-two councils established Māori wards for the 2022 local election and currently have them up and running. If these councils disestablish their Māori wards, there will be no Māori ward in the 2025 local election and the council does not have to hold a poll unless it chooses to. If those councils do not overturn their decision, the existing Māori ward continues for another three years, and the council must hold a binding poll at next year’s local election. If there is a NO vote, the Māori ward will proceed for a further three years, with the poll taking effect at the 2028 local election.
If the 13 councils that have decided to establish Māori wards for the 2025 local election decide to rescind their decision the ward will not proceed, and the council does not have to hold a poll unless it chooses to. For those councils that do not reverse their decision, the Māori ward proceeds, and the council must hold a binding poll at next year’s local election. The result of the poll will take effect at the 2028 local election.
To find out where your council stands, please read ‘Maori wards decision looms’ by Mike Butler.
The latest Taxpayers' Union Curia poll shows that a large majority of New Zealanders believe that the final decision-makers on the introduction or disestablishment of Māori Wards should be local voters, not mayors and councillors.
If you too believe it is important to allow citizens the right to choose, talk to your councillors. Find out where your council stands on this issue and let them know what you think.