Post by Kiwi Frontline on May 12, 2021 4:05:55 GMT 12
MĀORI WARDS CHANGE WAS FAST-TRACKED AGAINST OFFICIAL ADVICE
Councils have been moving quickly to establish Māori wards after the Government itself fast-tracked the removal of ‘racist’ restrictions – but officials were less keen on such a swift process.
The Government's decision to streamline the process for new Māori wards for next year's local body elections came against the advice of officials, who warned skipping a full policy development and public consultation process could prove controversial and undermine progress on the changes.
Instead, the department suggested either enacting changes within the current term of Parliament but not having them come into effect until 2023 (meaning any newly established Māori wards would be in place for the 2025 local elections) or reviewing the Māori wards process as part of broader, longer-term local elections reform......
www.newsroom.co.nz/maori-wards-fast-tracked-against-advice
MĀORI WARD HOT TOPIC AT INVERCARGILL CITY COUNCIL
Invercargill deputy electoral officer Michael Morris recommended that the Invercargill City Council not join other councils in creating a Māori ward for the next election, but consider mana whenua seats at the council table.
His recommendations were made after Ngai Tahu had made it clear they did not want a Māori ward.
Under the recommended option, which councillors agreed to on Tuesday, council staff would be directed to work with mana whenua to create mana whenua seats instead.
“These seats would be exclusively for mana whenua and would not be elected by the voting public. The seats would be on the council’s standing committees that come with voting rights and an advisory seat on full council (non-voting),” Morris says in the report…..
www.stuff.co.nz/national/125090894/mori-ward-hot-topic-at-invercargill-city-council
WHAKATANE AIMS TO MEET MAORI SEAT DEADLINE
Whakatāne District Council will hold an extraordinary meeting next week to vote on whether or not to establish Māori wards.
The council has consulted with its iwi forum and also asked for feedback from its youth council and four community boards…..
www.waateanews.com/waateanews/x_news/MjcyNzU/Paakiwaha/Whakatane-aims-to-meet-Maori-seat-deadline
MANAWATU IWI GIVE COUNCIL TASTE OF BACKLASH
Manawatū Māori will march on the offices of the Manawatū District Council this morning to demand councillors to reconsider last week’s decision to defer consideration of Māori wards until 2023…..
www.waateanews.com/waateanews/x_story_id/MjcyNzY=/Manawatu-iwi-give-council-taste-of-backlash
More on the above here > Hundreds of people join march for Māori wards in Manawatū
www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/300304206/hundreds-of-people-join-march-for-mori-wards-in-manawat
GOFF COUNTING ON LAW CHANGE FOR MAORI SEAT
Auckland mayor Phil Goff is counting on a law change later this year to allow the super city to create a Māori ward in time for the 2025 local government election.
So far 13 of the 29 territorial local authorities across Aotearoa will have Māori seats after next year’s election, and Māori in Feilding this morning marched on the Manawatū District Council to demand it revisit its decision not to create a ward.
Mayor Goff says having a seat representing voters on the Māori roll brings councils in line with the arrangements for central government and increases diversity around the table……
www.waateanews.com/waateanews/x_news/MjcyNzk/Goff-counting-on-law-change-for-Maori-seat
Councils have been moving quickly to establish Māori wards after the Government itself fast-tracked the removal of ‘racist’ restrictions – but officials were less keen on such a swift process.
The Government's decision to streamline the process for new Māori wards for next year's local body elections came against the advice of officials, who warned skipping a full policy development and public consultation process could prove controversial and undermine progress on the changes.
Instead, the department suggested either enacting changes within the current term of Parliament but not having them come into effect until 2023 (meaning any newly established Māori wards would be in place for the 2025 local elections) or reviewing the Māori wards process as part of broader, longer-term local elections reform......
www.newsroom.co.nz/maori-wards-fast-tracked-against-advice
MĀORI WARD HOT TOPIC AT INVERCARGILL CITY COUNCIL
Invercargill deputy electoral officer Michael Morris recommended that the Invercargill City Council not join other councils in creating a Māori ward for the next election, but consider mana whenua seats at the council table.
His recommendations were made after Ngai Tahu had made it clear they did not want a Māori ward.
Under the recommended option, which councillors agreed to on Tuesday, council staff would be directed to work with mana whenua to create mana whenua seats instead.
“These seats would be exclusively for mana whenua and would not be elected by the voting public. The seats would be on the council’s standing committees that come with voting rights and an advisory seat on full council (non-voting),” Morris says in the report…..
www.stuff.co.nz/national/125090894/mori-ward-hot-topic-at-invercargill-city-council
WHAKATANE AIMS TO MEET MAORI SEAT DEADLINE
Whakatāne District Council will hold an extraordinary meeting next week to vote on whether or not to establish Māori wards.
The council has consulted with its iwi forum and also asked for feedback from its youth council and four community boards…..
www.waateanews.com/waateanews/x_news/MjcyNzU/Paakiwaha/Whakatane-aims-to-meet-Maori-seat-deadline
MANAWATU IWI GIVE COUNCIL TASTE OF BACKLASH
Manawatū Māori will march on the offices of the Manawatū District Council this morning to demand councillors to reconsider last week’s decision to defer consideration of Māori wards until 2023…..
www.waateanews.com/waateanews/x_story_id/MjcyNzY=/Manawatu-iwi-give-council-taste-of-backlash
More on the above here > Hundreds of people join march for Māori wards in Manawatū
www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/300304206/hundreds-of-people-join-march-for-mori-wards-in-manawat
GOFF COUNTING ON LAW CHANGE FOR MAORI SEAT
Auckland mayor Phil Goff is counting on a law change later this year to allow the super city to create a Māori ward in time for the 2025 local government election.
So far 13 of the 29 territorial local authorities across Aotearoa will have Māori seats after next year’s election, and Māori in Feilding this morning marched on the Manawatū District Council to demand it revisit its decision not to create a ward.
Mayor Goff says having a seat representing voters on the Māori roll brings councils in line with the arrangements for central government and increases diversity around the table……
www.waateanews.com/waateanews/x_news/MjcyNzk/Goff-counting-on-law-change-for-Maori-seat