Post by Kiwi Frontline on Jul 5, 2017 18:16:12 GMT 12
RANGITIKEI COUNCILLOR SAYS MAORI WARD FIGHT TO GO ON
Soraya Peke-Mason says the fight to make it easier to establish Maori wards on councils will continue despite a bill aimed at achieving that being voted down last week.
The Rangitikei District councillor said she hoped the matter would be discussed by Local Government New Zealand subcommittee Te Maruata at the national conference this month.
At present the establishment - or disestablishment - of Maori wards by councils can be put to a public referendum if 5 per cent of all voters ask.
But the same can't happen with general wards.
The member's bill by Green Party MP Marama Davidson aimed to address the discrepancy but was voted down by Parliament last week at its first reading.
"It's disappointing that Marama Davidson's bill didn't get passed but let me just say it won't go away," Ms Peke-Mason said.
She said the current system was unfair because a Maori ward was easily overturned by the general public through a referendum process"
"It allows people who are not on the Maori roll to seek a referendum and it's a ridiculous percentage."....
www.nzherald.co.nz/wanganui-chronicle/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503426&objectid=11885198
Soraya Peke-Mason says the fight to make it easier to establish Maori wards on councils will continue despite a bill aimed at achieving that being voted down last week.
The Rangitikei District councillor said she hoped the matter would be discussed by Local Government New Zealand subcommittee Te Maruata at the national conference this month.
At present the establishment - or disestablishment - of Maori wards by councils can be put to a public referendum if 5 per cent of all voters ask.
But the same can't happen with general wards.
The member's bill by Green Party MP Marama Davidson aimed to address the discrepancy but was voted down by Parliament last week at its first reading.
"It's disappointing that Marama Davidson's bill didn't get passed but let me just say it won't go away," Ms Peke-Mason said.
She said the current system was unfair because a Maori ward was easily overturned by the general public through a referendum process"
"It allows people who are not on the Maori roll to seek a referendum and it's a ridiculous percentage."....
www.nzherald.co.nz/wanganui-chronicle/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503426&objectid=11885198