Post by Kiwi Frontline on Jul 30, 2024 4:13:07 GMT 12
NORTHLAND MĀORI WARDS’ FUTURE UNCERTAIN AS NEW LAW KICKS IN
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown confirmed the new Māori ward legislation was due to come inon Wednesday.
The new rules will mean Northland’s councils must poll their communities at the next election if they want to keep their Māori wards.
The compulsory referendums will be binding for councils that set up Māori wards without a poll.
Far North District Council (FNDC) has already chosen to keep its Ngā Tai o Tokerau Māori ward, meaning it will have to poll its voters.
Northland Regional Council (NRC) has also already chosen to keep its Te Raki Māori constituency for the next elections, polling its voters across Te Tai Tokerau as a result.
Whangārei Mayor Vince Cocurullo said recently his council was waiting for the law to be passed before deciding on its Whangārei District Māori Ward’s future.
Kaipara District Council Mayor Craig Jepson wants to get rid of his council’s Te Moananui o Kaipara Māori ward before the next local elections, that dependent on a council-wide decision.
Councils that choose to get rid of their Māori ward before the 2025 elections don’t have to poll their voters.
They will, however, need to hold a mini representation review, before the end of 2024.
Almost 40% of Northlanders identify as Māori, compared with about 17% nationally. That figure climbs in the Far North with 51% of its people identifying as Māori, New Zealand’s second highest percentage (after Gisborne’s 56%).....
www.nzherald.co.nz/kahu/northland-maori-wards-future-uncertain-as-new-law-kicks-in/ELOUCD5U6BF5PF4DWTRXPUSPBY/
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown confirmed the new Māori ward legislation was due to come inon Wednesday.
The new rules will mean Northland’s councils must poll their communities at the next election if they want to keep their Māori wards.
The compulsory referendums will be binding for councils that set up Māori wards without a poll.
Far North District Council (FNDC) has already chosen to keep its Ngā Tai o Tokerau Māori ward, meaning it will have to poll its voters.
Northland Regional Council (NRC) has also already chosen to keep its Te Raki Māori constituency for the next elections, polling its voters across Te Tai Tokerau as a result.
Whangārei Mayor Vince Cocurullo said recently his council was waiting for the law to be passed before deciding on its Whangārei District Māori Ward’s future.
Kaipara District Council Mayor Craig Jepson wants to get rid of his council’s Te Moananui o Kaipara Māori ward before the next local elections, that dependent on a council-wide decision.
Councils that choose to get rid of their Māori ward before the 2025 elections don’t have to poll their voters.
They will, however, need to hold a mini representation review, before the end of 2024.
Almost 40% of Northlanders identify as Māori, compared with about 17% nationally. That figure climbs in the Far North with 51% of its people identifying as Māori, New Zealand’s second highest percentage (after Gisborne’s 56%).....
www.nzherald.co.nz/kahu/northland-maori-wards-future-uncertain-as-new-law-kicks-in/ELOUCD5U6BF5PF4DWTRXPUSPBY/