It would also allow for board members to sit on council committees, be part of Resource Management Act decisions and establish its own sub-committees.
Those proposals, which involved a $15,000 lawyers' fee, are still being discussed within Te Arawa with final hui expected to be completed by early next month. A progress report is expected to be presented to the council by Christmas, said council strategy and partnerships group manager Jean-Paul Gaston. He said the decision not to include Maori wards did not mean this project was the preferred action. "We don't have a proposal from Te Arawa yet," he said.
Mr McVicker said Maori wards and this specific proposal both made "a mockery of democracy". He said Maori representation should happen by election only, especially as the partnership wouldn't represent all Maori in Rotorua, only those who affiliate to Te Arawa.
"There's only one way to do it and if you look at the last election we had, Tania Tapsell proved it can be done. Three of the 12 current councillors are Maori.
"So once again we are seeing a relatively small number of Maori calling for more power and control of council. "I'm defending what the people of Rotorua believe in and if it came to a vote it would be pretty close."
Mrs Chadwick said the decision last week was on whether council wanted Maori wards, and was not about the partnership project.
"I don't want to get these two muddled ... We're still waiting for what's going to go into that report. It's public and [Te Arawa] is giving its feedback. I look forward to what they have to say.
"It's a decision that can't be reached in a hurry."
Te Arawa Standing Committee spokesman Arapeta Tahana could not be reached for comment.
