Fears of 'unsustainable workload' for Flaxmere councillor after Māori wards decision

Hastings District councillors have decided on a path forward to establish Māori wards, which triggered a representation review. Photo / Warren Buckland

A last-ditch bid to see Flaxmere keep two dedicated seats on Hastings District Council has failed, after the council met to decide on how to establish Māori wards.

A representation review of the district's ward makeups and number of councillors was prompted after the council voted to establish Māori wards in May.

There are currently 14 councillors, comprising 10 from the urban wards (Hastings-Havelock North eight, Flaxmere two) and four from rural wards (Heretaunga two, Kahurānaki one, Mohaka one).

Three initial options were put forward to the council, each of which proposed Flaxmere lose a dedicated seat to allow three new seats be established under a Māori ward named Takitimu.

However, a fourth option was brought forward during the online meeting on Thursday, whereby two Māori seats would be established through the Takitimu ward, and a third would be dedicated to Flaxmere.

Councillor Bayden Barber, of Waimarama, said it would be very poorly perceived if there were fewer Māori seats. Photo / NZME

Councillor Bayden Barber raised concerns about the potential "workload" for a single dedicated Flaxmere councillor.

"If you look at the population in terms of ethnicity and deprivation makeup, you've got huge issues going on for Flaxmere."

He said it would also be very poorly perceived if there were fewer Māori seats, adding, "we can't cut that back".

"Having the maximum number of Māori representing on council that we can is important."

Cr Simon Nixon agreed, saying it seemed council had effectively agreed to and created an expectation there would be three seats.

Cr Geraldine Travis said to have less than that would be "a betrayal" and "add to the hurt".

Flaxmere councillor Henare O'Keefe noted the high needs of the people of Flaxmere and that a significant number of its residents - about 40 per cent - were on the Māori electoral roll. Photo / NZME

She was also concerned about the "unsustainable workload" for one Flaxmere councillor, which led to her proposing the fourth option, which was seconded by Cr Ann Redstone.

Henare O'Keefe, one of two Flaxmere councillors, wanted two committed councillors, and was happy for this to be done with a Māori seat dedicated to Flaxmere.

"It is a demanding, high-needs community," he said.

"This is a community that has fought for what it has now.

"The best model in my opinion is the one we've got now - with two councillors. That model has served them well."

Flaxmere councillor Peleti Oli, who received the highest number of votes for the ward at the last election, also noted the large number of Pasifika who called Flaxmere home. Photo / NZME

The other Flaxmere councillor, Peleti Oli, pointed to the diverse mix of Flaxmere, noting also its Pasifika and Pakeha populations.

Members of the Heretaunga Takoto Noa Māori Standing Committee had earlier told the council they expect at least three seats - any less, as proposed in the third option, would "water down" Māori representation.

Several councillors voiced concerns about this option, which would merge the separate rural wards into one.

The last-minute proposal was ultimately shut down, with councillors instead voting on the preferred option A, which would see the district divided into a total of six wards - five general wards and one Māori ward - with 15 councillors.

The Flaxmere and Hastings-Havelock North wards would each lose a seat, with three new seats established under the new Māori ward named Takitimu.

The number of councillors elected from the rural wards in Heretaunga, Kahurānaki and Mohaka would remain the same.

Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said a survey showed 76 per cent of the community were in favour of establishing Māori wards prior to the council making its decision in May. Photo / NZME

Barber said one at-large ward would be the "most sensible" option, especially as it was the first time the district had Māori seats.

This passed 10-4, with councillors Oli, Damon Harvey, Wendy Schollum, and Sophie Siers voting against.

Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said there had been concern right from the outset that Flaxmere wasn't going to be fairly represented - it falls below the Local Government Commission's fair representation requirement.

However, she said establishing Māori wards was a "significant and positive" change and there would be opportunity to address issues in future representation reviews.

Councils across the country have until August 31 to decide on a proposal (preferred option) to establish Māori wards and September 8 to make public notification for consultation.