Maori wards favoured for 2019 council elections

PALMERSTON North mayor Grant Smith said council had been "brave enough" to vote in favour of Maori wards. Photo: SUPPLIED

Palmerston North is the first council to confirm their intention to designate a Maori ward in the 2019 local body elections.

Last week, councillors voted to establish at least one Maori ward to represent the approximate 18 per cent who make up the city's population.

Palmerston North mayor Grant Smith said he was proud Palmerston North had been the first to indicate this.

"No system is perfect but it must represent the people it affects. Maori people want to be, and deserve to be, around this table."

Earlier this year, council consulted on Maori wards receiving 90 submissions - 60 of which opposed the idea of a Maori ward.

Council said submissions varied but those against the process had voiced a "one New Zealand" belief, and support for the existing democratic system.

Those in favour felt guaranteed seats could remove some of the barriers facing Maori representation.

Councillor Adrian Broad was one of four to vote against the proposal.

"I'm more in favour of something similar to an iwi relationship/advisory board," he said. "I support this concept as I have seen it work well in other community settings, in the city and region. Having strong liaison, partnerships and relationships with Maori, Pasifika and other cultural groups are important to me."

Leonie Hapeta, Karen Naylor and Bruno Petrenas also voted against the ward. Mr Petrenas said after listening to submissions, he agreed an advisory board was a better way of receiving input from local iwi.

"Mana whenua have a distinctive role in the city and that partnership would not be covered by a Maori ward councillor appointed by all Maori. It's important for the community to understand while some think Maori wards would be a positive way to represent Maori issues for the community, there will still be a need to negotiate and set up formal arrangements with Rangitane such as a standing committee."

Mrs Naylor said she was keen to see an improved representation of Maori around the council table but felt there were other ways to do so.

"It has a number of limitations and, based on submission feedback, is not currently well supported by many in our community. Only Maori who are enrolled on the Maori electoral roll can vote for Maori wards, and this comprises only about half of all Maori in Palmerston North."

She said some submitters had indicated they would pursue a petition requesting a poll if councillors voted to introduce Maori wards.

"This has the potential to be very divisive in a community, and also quite costly.

"Last week I proposed an additional recommendation to look at options for improved engagement and participation of Maori with council processes and I was pleased this was supported by my colleagues.

"These options may include a standing committee, iwi committee, appointed members on committees etc, as has been implemented successfully in other councils."

Ms Hapeta, whose husband is Maori, said she struggled with her decision.

"I want to see Maori around the council table in some form and I'm not sure the Maori wards was the best way forward.

"I talked with a senior councillor from New Plymouth and they've establish a standing committee that's working well with representatives from iwi and council, and recommendations go from this committee to council - this is what I wanted to try first."

Brent Barrett was one of eight councillors to support the wards.

"One of our first obligations - in any representative democracy - is to be genuinely representative. Another, specific to New Zealand, is to build on our foundations in the Treaty. For both of those reasons, it is natural and necessary to have Maori representation - a vote, not just a voice - here at this table."

He said there was an obvious gap in this representation. "Establishment of a Maori ward is a necessary but incomplete means to close the gap. If our vote to establish a Maori ward triggers a petition for a poll then so be it - that's a healthy conversation for our community to have."