Voters happy for no Maori seats

There will be no Maori seats on the Wairoa District Council for the next two elections following preliminary counting of an official poll.

There were 1306 votes (52 per cent) against the proposal to introduce Maori wards and 1207 (48 per cent) for the proposal.

Over 47 per cent of eligible voters participated - a high participation rated for a local government poll.

Wairoa is 61 per cent Maori according to the 2006 Statistics NZ census.

The poll was carried out as a result of a petition presented to the council earlier this year, requesting to overturn a decision to delay the poll until the 2013 election and instead hold one immediately. Councils have the option every three years to introduce Maori wards.

Members of the Maori Standing Committee proposed Maori seats last year because while they attended council meetings, they had no voting rights.

The council refused a request from the committee for $20,000 for a community consultation process that involved hui.

Wairoa District Councillor Benita Cairns said she was glad the issue had been brought out into the open.

"The initial reaction was disappointment followed by pride for the community," she said.

"While it is a defeat the result is so close - 48 per cent have said they are not happy with the status quo."