Post by Kiwi Frontline on Jan 17, 2018 16:19:34 GMT 12
POLL ON MAORI SEATS LOOKS LIKELY TO CHALLENGE WESTERN BAY OF PLENTY COUNCIL DECISION
A poll looks almost certain to be held to challenge the decision to have separate Maori seats on the Western Bay of Plenty District Council.
Councillors who opposed the decision to have a Maori ward or wards for the 2019 and 2022 elections have succeeded in raising the 1708 signatures needed to force the council into holding a district-wide poll on the issue.
''We are feeling comfortable about achieving 3000 signatures,'' Te Puke councillor Mike Lally said.
He and fellow councillor Margaret Murray-Benge believe they will gather more than enough signatures to guarantee a poll - even if a couple of hundred signatures on the petition turned out to be people ineligible to vote in the Western Bay District.
Murray-Benge said they had well over 2000 signatures already and there were still plenty to come in.
Mikaere was not surprised or disheartened the 1708 signatures would be reached, but he was slightly disappointed. ''It might not be this time.''
So when will it happen, he was asked. ''Biology will take care of that,'' he replied referring to intermarriage between Maori and Pakeha......
www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503343&objectid=11976193
A poll looks almost certain to be held to challenge the decision to have separate Maori seats on the Western Bay of Plenty District Council.
Councillors who opposed the decision to have a Maori ward or wards for the 2019 and 2022 elections have succeeded in raising the 1708 signatures needed to force the council into holding a district-wide poll on the issue.
''We are feeling comfortable about achieving 3000 signatures,'' Te Puke councillor Mike Lally said.
He and fellow councillor Margaret Murray-Benge believe they will gather more than enough signatures to guarantee a poll - even if a couple of hundred signatures on the petition turned out to be people ineligible to vote in the Western Bay District.
Murray-Benge said they had well over 2000 signatures already and there were still plenty to come in.
Mikaere was not surprised or disheartened the 1708 signatures would be reached, but he was slightly disappointed. ''It might not be this time.''
So when will it happen, he was asked. ''Biology will take care of that,'' he replied referring to intermarriage between Maori and Pakeha......
www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503343&objectid=11976193
