The controversial issue of establishing a separate Maori seat on the Tauranga City Council could end up being put to the public vote.
Tauranga's Tangata Whenua Collective of Maori iwi and hapu has agreed to take the initiative after the council recently voted against establishing a Maori ward for the 2016 election.
The collective has decided to take up the public's right to demand a poll on the issue by obtaining support from 5 per cent of the city's electors. If the collective succeeds in getting the signatures of 4237 enrolled city voters then the council will have to run a referendum on the issue, costing $170,000.
Tangata Whenua Collective deputy chairwoman Matire Duncan said the collective voted unanimously to initiate a poll on the Maori ward. "We had a good talk about it and then everybody put their hand up and said 'Yes, let's do it'."
Ms Duncan said the collective was showing unity and it was now up to each member to canvass people on the electoral roll to reach the 5 per cent threshold for a referendum. "We have a lot of work ahead of us."