Voting opens next week for Western Bay of Plenty Maori ward poll

Western Bay District Council elected members meet to decide Maori seats. Photo/file

Voting opens next week for people to have their say on whether the Western Bay of Plenty District Council should establish Māori wards.

The council is holding a binding poll to see whether Māori wards should be introduced for the next two triennial elections in 2019 and in 2022.

Voting documents are being sent to all electors on the district's electoral roll (comprising electors from both the general and Māori parliamentary rolls) from April 27 and electors have until noon, May 19 to return these.

The poll has come about because in November 2017 Western Bay councillors voted to establish one or more Māori wards.

Consequently, an independent petition from over five per cent of Western Bay residents who opposed the move was handed to the council, prompting the poll.

The Local Government Act requires all councils to have processes in place for consulting with Māori. The establishment of a Māori ward is one way to guarantee this.

If you believe you are eligible to vote but haven't received a voting document by May 3, please check that you are enrolled to vote and contact the electoral office for a special vote - 0800 922 822.

Completed documents can be returned by post, or hand delivered to a ballot box at one of Council's service centres (Barkes Corner, Te Puke, Waihi Beach, Katikati, and Omokoroa).

The results of the poll will be publically notified by May, 21.

Background information

• The Local Government Act requires all councils to have processes in place for consulting with Māori.

• The option of having a Māori ward was developed by the Parliament as a way to enhance the role and perspective of Māori in local government decision-making.

• The advantage for establishing a Māori ward or wards is to provide a direct Māori voice on the council.

• Any representative elected to a Māori ward would sit alongside general ward representatives and swear the same oath to represent the whole district.

• If electors vote against establishing Māori wards council will continue with current contributions of tangata whenua into council processes.