Council votes for Māori voice at table
Photo: Tauranga Moana Te Arawa ki Takutai Partnership Forum Chair Reon Tuanau and Western Bay Mayor Garry Webber
Western Bay of Plenty District looks set to get Māori ward representation at the 2019 and 2022 local body elections.
Councillors voted today (21 November 2017) to establish one or more Māori wards to enable Māori representation around the Council table.
Today's decision follows a unanimous vote by Council's Tauranga Moana/Te Arawa ki Takutai Partnership Forum earlier this month which recommended the establishment of one or more Māori ward/s.
Mayor Garry Webber says the Western Bay District's constituency has one of the highest percentages of Māori among local authorities in New Zealand.
We have 11 iwi and 74 hapū within our rohe and while no representation system is perfect it needs to represent the people it affects. Today's bold step by Council recognises this and paves the way for fairer representation.
Garry says Council accepts that not everyone will agree with the decision, however the position and role of Tangata Whenua in New Zealand's political, economic and environmental landscape is as strong as it has ever been.
When you take this into account, along with a District that is heading into a post Treaty of Waitangi settlement environment, it is very clear that Māori should be around the Council decision-making table.''
Council's Tauranga Moana/Te Arawa ki Takutai Partnership Forum Co-Chair Reon Tuana says Tangata Whenua in the Western Bay have a long-standing relationship with Council through partnership forums developed over many years.
We believe Māori wards are a natural progression from this partnership and the opportunity is timely. It will give us a stronger voice to enable an even more focused effort to improve the well-being of Tangata Whenua within the District and the communities it serves.
The forum members acknowledge this brave decision of Council and we ask the people of the District also to be brave and give Tangata Whenua a chance to show the value this kaupapa will bring.
Nā tou rourou, nāku te rourou ka ora ai te tangata - with your basket and my basket put into the same basket, the people will thrive.
Debate on Māori wards coincides with the six yearly Representation Review which legally binds Council to consider Māori representation.
Council must publicly notify its decision by 30 November 2017. If five percent or more of the District's electors demand a poll, the issue will be determined by a public poll.
A demand for a poll must be received by 21 February 2018 and a poll held by 21 May 2018. If there is no demand for a poll, Council's decision is final.
The final number of Māori wards in the Western Bay (one or two) will be determined during next year's Representation Review process.
Māori wards have been established in Bay of Plenty and Waikato Regional councils. Wairoa District Council will have Māori wards at the 2019 elections as a result of a public poll. Palmerston North City Council, Manawatu and Whakatane District councils have adopted resolutions for Māori representation but are subject to the poll provision. If Māori wards are established they must remain for two triennial elections.
