AUCKLAND COUNCIL CONSIDERS CREATING MĀORI COUNCILLOR ROLE

[Kiwi Frontline]

AUCKLAND COUNCIL CONSIDERS CREATING MĀORI COUNCILLOR ROLE

Elected Māori representation is in Auckland Council's sights.

On Thursday Auckland councillors will vote on whether or not to establish a Māori ward.

As a way to help implement Treaty of Waitangi obligations, the Māori ward would take the place of one of 20 governing body members, not including the mayor.

If there is public backlash and a petition is launched, attracting more than 5 per cent of eligible voters, in this case 51,000 Auckland residents, then a $1 million "for or against" poll would need to take place......

www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/97260149/Auckland-Council-considers-creating-M-ori-councillor-role

[Kiwi Frontline]

* WHAT ARE MAORI WARDS / SEATS?

Maori seats are separate, race-based positions on Councils reserved for people identifying as Maori. They are voted for exclusively by a Maori constituency (wards). The candidates only care about gaining advantages for their Maori supporters, not the community as a whole.

Maori candidates standing for these seats do not have to compete with other candidates from the general community, but they are, at least, open to some competition from other local Maori willing to and with the resources to stand against them every electoral cycle. Importantly, they are voted in, if only by those registered on the Maori electoral roll.

Environment Bay of Plenty became the first Regional Council to have separate Maori representation with the 2001 Maori Constituency Empowering Act. Since then, amendments have been made to give communities the option of creating Maori wards for cities or Maori constituencies for regions. They can be created by the Local Authority or by a poll of electors. Whether instigated by council or by a petition demanding one (must be signed by 5% of the electors), the council must hold a poll, the results of which are binding.

(In contrast, citizens wanting a country-wide referendum on an issue of national importance have to submit a petition to Parliament signed by 10% of all registered electors within 12 months and the outcome is non-binding.)....

sites.google.com/site/kiwifrontline/local-government-hijack/maori-wards-appointments-q-a