Post by Kiwi Frontline on Apr 25, 2018 19:20:28 GMT 12
MĀORI WARDS FOR MANAWATŪ COUNCILS PUT TO THE VOTE IN REFERENDUMS
Voting papers have been sent out and it's now up to Palmerston North and Manawatū District residents to decide if their councils should have Māori wards.
Voting started on Monday for the Manawatū District Council poll, and the Palmerston North City Council poll opens on Friday.
Both councils passed decisions late last year for Māori wards to be set up in time for the next local body elections, in 2019. This would allow voters registered on the national Māori electoral roll to vote for council candidates in a separate Māori ward or wards.
However, both councils' decisions were challenged by petitions, with enough residents' signatures collected to force binding referendums.
Don Esslemont, who organised the Palmerston North petition, said some people had some strong feelings on the issue, but it was hard to gauge how well informed they would be.......
www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/103378035/mori-wards-for-manawat-councils-put-to-the-vote-in-referendums
Voting papers have been sent out and it's now up to Palmerston North and Manawatū District residents to decide if their councils should have Māori wards.
Voting started on Monday for the Manawatū District Council poll, and the Palmerston North City Council poll opens on Friday.
Both councils passed decisions late last year for Māori wards to be set up in time for the next local body elections, in 2019. This would allow voters registered on the national Māori electoral roll to vote for council candidates in a separate Māori ward or wards.
However, both councils' decisions were challenged by petitions, with enough residents' signatures collected to force binding referendums.
Don Esslemont, who organised the Palmerston North petition, said some people had some strong feelings on the issue, but it was hard to gauge how well informed they would be.......
www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/103378035/mori-wards-for-manawat-councils-put-to-the-vote-in-referendums