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.
A tally of the 78 Councils around the country shows that: three have had separate Māori representation for several years; 35 have now opted to also create Māori seats; three have delayed the decision to enable public consultation; 10 are not eligible due to the low number of voters on the Māori roll in their area; and 27 have not undertaken formal measures.
Whether or not a council decides to introduce a Māori ward (or wards) does not preclude councils establishing different mechanisms to include Māori at governance level - where decision-making takes place. Many Councils have dedicated seats for unelected members on their Council Committees, some with full voting rights. Please see below a table of Māori wards and alternative representation models. N.B. This situation is fluid, with councils choosing to establish various forms of Maori representation on council, usually without consulting their communities. If you have any other information relating to this issue in your area, please contact us at: [email protected]
| REGIONAL COUNCILS | MĀORI REPRESENTATION | MĀORI CONSTITUENCIES |
| Bay Of Plenty Regional | A Māori Policy Unit. A Relationship Protocol between Te Uru Taumatua and the Council, to increase the opportunity for engagement and input over shared goals, projects and initiatives. | Has had three Māori seats since 2001. |
| Canterbury Regional | ||
| Hawke’s Bay Regional | Ten Māori appointees on the Planning Committee with voting rights, alongside the 10 elected members. Two Māori appointees with full voting rights on the Environmental Management Committee, the Asset Management and Biosecurity Committee, and the Strategic Planning and Finance Committee. One iwi appointee with full voting rights on the Hearings Committee. Chair of the Māori Committee is a member at council meetings with speaking rights. Twelve representatives on Maori Advisory Committee. Employs a Maori liaison officer. | Voted to establish Māori constituency. Feedback closed 22 April 2021. |
| Manawatu-Whanganui (Horizons) Regional | Iwi representatives with full voting rights appointed to the Horizons climate committee. | Voted to establish Māori constituency. Feedback closed 10 May 2021. |
| Northland Regional | Maori Advisory Standing Committee - 26 hapu / iwi representatives and four regional councillors. Te Tai Tokerau Māori and Council working party consisting of nine councillors and twenty-one appointed iwi and hapū members. Several Working Parties consisting of 50% councillors and 50% Māori reps | Voted to establish Māori constituencies without consulting the community. |
| Otago Regional | Two paid Ngai Tahu representatives on council's policy committee with voting rights | |
| Southland Environment Regional | ||
| Taranaki Regional | Three iwi reps on each of the Council’s two main standing committees - Policy & Planning Committee and Consents & Regulatory | Voted to establish a Māori constituency after public consultation. |
| Waikato Regional | Two Māori seats since 2013. | |
| Greater Wellington Regional | AhaTari - a joint leadership forum between iwi and the Council, plus a range of other appointments. There are Maori representatives with voting rights on most council committees. https://www.gw.govt.nz/liaising-with-maori | |
| West Coast Regional | Mana Whakahono a Rohe partnership agreement |
| TERRITORIAL AUTHORITIES | MĀORI REPRESENTATION | MĀORI WARDS |
| Ashburton District | Not eligible for Māori ward due to the small number of voters on the Māori roll. | |
| Auckland | The Independent Māori Statutory Board (IMSB) is represented on 16 committees with full voting rights. In addition, they are represented on working parties and hearings panels and various fora. Several co-governance arrangements, including the Tupuna Maunga Authority, comprising of six Auckland Council and six Tāmaki Iwi Collective members. A Māori Strategy and Relations Unit department within council. |
Not content with the extent of Māori representation on Auckland City Council, Cr Alf Filipaina is calling for a law change to enable a Maori seat at the council table. This is despite the Independent Maori Statutory Board having voting rights on most council committees. |
| Buller District | Voting rights on the council’s four committees: Finance Risk and Audit, Community; Environment and Service; Infrastructure strategy; and Regulatory hearings from July. | |
| Carterton District | Voting rights on committees to representatives of Hurunui-O-Rangi marae. | |
| Central Hawke’s Bay District | Iwi representatives are invited to every scheduled ordinary, special, and extraordinary meeting of full council. | |
| Central Otago District | Not eligible for Māori ward due to the small number of voters on the Māori roll. | |
| Chatham Islands | ||
| Christchurch City | ||
| Clutha District | Māori representatives nominated to all committees when appropriate e.g. there are two with voting rights on the wastewater and solid waste working parties | |
| Dunedin City | ||
| Far North District | Voted to establish Māori wards | |
| Gisborne District | Joint Management Agreement between Gisborne District Council and Te Runanganui o Ngāti Porou provides a mechanism for Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Porou to share in RMA decision-making within the Waiapu Catchment. | Decision made to establish Māori wards after feedback from the public. Eligible for five seats. |
| Gore District | ||
| Grey District | Non-voting iwi representatives around the council table since 2018 | Not eligible for Māori ward due to the small number of voters on the Māori roll. |
| Hamilton City | One or two iwi representatives on all committees | Voted to establish Māori wards. Feedback closed 10 May 2021 |
| Hastings District | Māori Joint Committee. Maori representatives with voting rights appointed to its four standing committees. | Voted to establish Māori wards. Feedback closed 12 May 2021 |
| Hauraki District | ||
| Horowhenua District | Voted to establish a Māori ward. Feedback closed 4 May 2021 | |
| Hurunui District | Not eligible for Māori ward due to the small number of voters on the Māori roll. | |
| Hutt City | Hutt City Council has representation with voting rights from two iwi on the Council’s Water Committee and District Plan Review Subcommittee. | |
| Invercargill City | No decision on Māori wards as councillors felt they had had insufficient time for due diligence | |
| Kaikōura District | Voted no to a Māori ward | |
| Kaipara District | Voted for a Māori ward without consulting the public. | |
| Kapiti Coast District | A partnership committee drives the strategic direction for iwi and council relationships. This group also oversees an annual work plan and keeps an oversight of all service level activity across the organisation that addresses and enhances the values and aspirations of tāngata whenua. Nominates one iwi representative to Council and one to each of the Council committees. Māori representation on the standing committees and tangata whenua working parties. An Iwi Relationships Team responsible for the management of the relationship between Council and iwi. An iwi representative is invited to sit on the Strategy and Operations Committee, with voting rights. | Voted no to a Maori ward |
| Kawerau District | ||
| Mackenzie District | Not eligible for Māori ward due to the small number of voters on the Māori roll. | |
| Manawatu District | An iwi advisory committee | Voted to establish Māori wards without public consultation after pressure from iwi. |
| Marlborough District | Iwi representative on each standing committee. These appointed reps have full speaking and voting rights as accorded elected members. | Voted for a Māori ward without consulting the public. |
| Masterton District | Rangitāne o Wairarapa and Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa have one representative each on council and committees. The representatives have votes on committees, but no voting rights on Council Governing body. | Voted for a Māori ward without consulting the public. |
| Matamata-Piako District | Te Manawhenua Forum - a standing standing committee established as a formal process of representation for Māori within the district. | Voted for a Māori ward without consulting the public. |
| Napier City | The Resource Consent Hearing committee has one Māori appointee with full voting rights. | Decided not to establish Māori wards prior to public consultation, after receiving legal advice. Community to be consulted for 2025 election in September 2021. |
| Nelson City | Voted for a Māori ward without consulting the public. | |
| New Plymouth District | An Iwi Relationship Team. Employs a part-time Māori Policy Analyst. | Voted for a Māori ward without consulting the public. |
| Ōpōtiki District | ||
| Ōtorohanga District | Voted for a Māori ward without consulting the public. | |
| Palmerston North City | Rangitāne o Manawatū reps with voting rights appointed to four formal council committees: Rangitāne o Manawatū, Community Development, Economic Development, and Environmental Sustainability. | Has resolved to establish a Māori ward or wards. Representation review consultation is expected to take place in August 2021. |
| Porirua City | Iwi rep with voting rights on a whole of council committee. Also has speaking rights at Council. | Voted for a Māori ward without consulting the public. |
| Queenstown-Lakes District | Not eligible for Māori ward due to the small number of voters on the Māori roll. | |
| Rangitikei District | Voted for a Māori ward without consulting the public. | |
| Rotorua Lakes District | Māori appointees with voting rights on two committees - RMA consent hearing panels and strategic working groups. Additionally, has an Iwi consultative group. | Voted for a Māori ward without consulting the public. |
| Ruapehu District | A Māori Council | Voted to establish Māori wards. Representation Review for the 2022 Elections feedback period closed. |
| Selwyn District | Not eligible for Māori ward due to the small number of voters on the Māori roll. | |
| South Taranaki District | Māori reps on sub committees | Voted for Maori wards. Eligible for two. |
| South Waikato District | MoU with 'iwi partner' Raukawa. JMA with Raukawa Settlement Trust. JMA with Te Arawa River Iwi Trust | |
| South Wairarapa District | Māori Standing Committee, comprising of three councillors, two representatives from each of the South Wairarapa Marae and Pae tu Mokai o Tauira, and one representative from each of the two Wairarapa Iwi. | Voted no to Maori wards this time around. |
| Southland District | ||
| Stratford District | Voted for a Māori ward without consulting the public, after pressure from iwi. | |
| Tararua District | MoU with Rangitāne and Ngāti Kahungunu which outlines a detailed policy for the development of Māori capacity to participate in council decision-making | Voted for a Māori ward without consulting the public. |
| Tasman District | Decided to delay Maori ward decision until 2025 election. | |
| Taupō District | Māori representatives on council committees | Voted to establish Māori wards. Feedback closed 6 April 2021 |
| Tauranga City | Takawaenga Maōri Unit with three full time positions. Supports Council in its relationship with tangata whenua and understanding of Maōri issues. Tangata whenua reps sitting on four council committees to have voting rights.Newly formed Strategy, Finance & Risk committee to include four tangata whenua members. | Tauranga City Council Commissioners unanimously voted to establish a Māori ward on 12 April 2021 |
| Thames Coromandel District | ||
| Timaru District | Māori representation on various committees. | Not eligible for Māori ward due to the small number of voters on the Māori roll. |
| Upper Hutt City | ||
| Waikato District | Voted for Māori wards without consulting the public | |
| Waimakiri District | MoU between Council and Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga provides for input to council projects and processes. A 50/50 co-management agreement with Ngāi Tahu to administer and manage reserves in coastal areas of the district. MoU between Council and Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga provides for input to council projects and processes. | Not eligible for Māori ward due to the small number of voters on the Māori roll. |
| Waimate District | Not eligible for Māori ward due to the small number of voters on the Māori roll. | |
| Waipa District | Four iwi representatives with voting rights appointed to four council committees. Employs an iwi relations adviser. | Voted to establish Māori wards. Feedback closed 19 April 2021 |
| Wairoa District | Māori Standing Committee | Has had Māori wards for several years |
| Waitaki District | Ngāi Tahu’s Te Rūnanga o Moeraki rep on a number of committees. | Not eligible for Māori ward due to the small number of voters on the Māori roll. |
| Waitomo District | ||
| Wellington City | A Treaty Relations Unit with a manager, senior advisor and cultural advisor. To establish two iwi appointed members on council committees. MoU with two iwi: Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira Incorporated and Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust. | Voted to establish Māori wards without consulting the public. |
| Western Bay of Plenty District | ||
| Westland District | Non-voting iwi representatives around the council table since 2018. Representatives of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae and Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio with voting rights on Finance, Audit and Risk Committee. | |
| Whakatane District | Strategic Māori Partnerships position recently created by Council, which forms part of the leadership team. | Voted to establish Māori wards. Feedback closed 30 April 2021 |
| Whanganui District | Considering three standing committees of council to include iwi representation with full voting rights. | Missed the deadline to establish Māori wards. |
| Whangārei District | Established a Strategic Partnership Forum Standing Committee. | Voted to establish Māori wards after public consultation. |
You can also view these by map.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
If you live in one of the areas that have voted to introduce undemocratic and/or separatist arrangements, you can email your Councillors to let them know what you think. A list of email addresses can be found here.
The other way you can have your say is to vote for those candidates who commit to upholding our democracy and respect for equal rights at the 2022 elections.
Media coverage
MORE MĀORI REPRESENTATION AT AUCKLAND COUNCIL?Not content with the extent of Māori representation on Auckland City Council, Cr Alf Filipaina is calling for a law change to enable a Maori seat at the council table. This is despite the Independent Maori Statutory Board having voting rights on most council committees. Media coverageWaateaNews: Auckland councilor wants ward law change |
REFERENCES
Council-Māori Participation Arrangements