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D I V E R S I T Y F O R U M S E S S I O N
2 2 A U G U S T 2 0 11
H U M A N R I G H T S C O M M I S S I O N
P R E S E N TAT I O N B Y
C AT R I O N A S C A N N E L L
Māori Representation in Local Government
Content:
• Commission’s work and reporting
• Correspondence with councils
• Coverage of recent council activity and controversy
Human Rights Commission research
Local Electoral Amendment Act 2002 provisions
Environment Bay of Plenty Regional Council example
Recommends councils consult with Māori as to their preferred option and support the option Māori prefer
Commission writes to Councils
Letters to councils in March, urging them to consider establishing Māori wards or constituencies
Urging discussion with Māori, not about Māori
7 councils replied
Commission writes to Councils
The Commission wrote to councils again in July, requesting information: Has your council considered, or does it plan to
consider before 23 November 2011, the establishment of Māori wards or constituencies?
How many councillors are there on your council, and of those, how many are of Māori descent
Commission writes to Councils
Of the 75 councils we wrote to: 43 have responded so far 21 will be consulting and/or considering the Māori
wards option by 23 November 8 have considered the option and rejected it, in some
cases choosing other options 5 will consider option before 2016 elections
Councils consider Māori representation
Controversial issue, played out at council and community meetings and in the media
Councils who have considered the option recently include: New Plymouth District Council Palmerston North City Council South Taranaki District Council Nelson City Council
New Plymouth District Council
Councillor Howie Tamati, one of three who voted for the proposal
In May New Plymouth District Council voted against proposal to establish 2 Māori seats
Instead the proposal will be included on the 2013 local body election ballot papers
Palmerston North City Council
Planning and policy committee has voted 8-5 against establishing Māori wards
Will go to full council vote in late August
South Taranaki District Council
In July, Council voted 10-5 against establishing Māori wards
Iwi Liaison Committee represents the 4 local iwi. Some on the Committee preferred other options, such as increasing the Iwi Liaison Committee.
Nelson City Council
Proposed merge of Nelson and Tasman Councils
Nelson Council consulted Kotahitanga forum on options. Agreed to proposal of Māori ward + Māori Community Board.
Tasman District Council opposes merge
At Whakatū marae, Nelson
Nelson City Council
Your experiences
What else needs to be done locally and nationally to ensure Māori are
represented effectively in Local Government?