Recently introduced legislation requires councils that are planning to introduce Māori wards to decide whether to quash their decision or continue with their plans and hold a binding poll at the next election. We want to know what you think our decision should be.
Thank you for sharing your views on Napier City Council’s 2024 Māori Wards Amendment Legislation; the final decision will be made by Council on Thursday, 5 September.
In 2021 the Government removed the requirement for a binding poll to be held to establish Māori wards. Following this, Napier City Council resolved in 2021 to introduce Māori wards for the 2025 local elections after a five-month consultation with residents.
In late 2023, before new Māori wards legislation was proposed, Council began its scheduled Representation Review, which must be undertaken at least every six years. This review considered Napier’s democracy arrangements, including the number of councillors, wards and their boundaries. It also had to consider the number of Māori wards and councillors for Napier because of the 2021 decision, so the proposal included one Māori ward with two councillors. From 8 July to 8 August, consultation on the proposal was undertaken. Council is currently considering the results of that consultation.
In late July, the Government introduced legislation that reinstated the requirement for a binding poll to be held to establish Māori wards. This means that because our 2021 decision was made without a poll (in line with the law at the time), we must decide by 6 September whether to continue with introducing Māori wards now and hold a poll in 2025. The alternative is to quash our decision now, and not introduce Māori wards in 2025.
Should Council quash that decision or continue with it? Read the information below and then tell us what you think.
Napier City Council’s preferred option is to continue with its 2021 decision to introduce Māori wards.
At that time, Council’s reasons for supporting the 2021 decision were:
Council believes the introduction of Māori wards will open the door to true partnership, add mana to the council, honour the Treaty of Waitangi and create new forms of Māori representation, rather than replacing any that exist already.
It is important to note that Māori ward candidates are voted onto Council by those on the Māori roll. Māori ward councillors cannot be appointed by Council or any other body.
If Council reaffirms its 2021 decision, then its current Representation Review proposal, which includes one Māori ward with two councillors, would remain if adopted. You can read more about this here.
By law, Council would then have to hold a binding poll at the 2025 election on whether to keep Māori wards beyond the 2025-28 council term. It is estimated that the poll would cost around $60,000.
If the community’s answer to that binding poll is no, then Māori wards will be removed from the 2028 election. A further Representation Review would need to be completed before 2028.
If the community’s answer is yes, then the current Representation Review proposal remains until 2031, assuming it is adopted by Council.
If Council chooses to quash its 2021 decision, then there are two options:
From the 2025 elections, electors could demand a poll to establish Māori wards or Council could consider introducing them.
Disclaimers and Copyright
While every endeavour has been taken by Napier City Council to ensure that the information on this website is
accurate and up to date, shall not be liable for any loss suffered through the use, directly or indirectly, of information on this website. Information contained has been assembled in good faith.
Some of the information available in this site is from the New Zealand Public domain and supplied by relevant
government agencies. cannot accept any liability for its accuracy or content.
Portions of the information and material on this site, including data, pages, documents, online
graphics and images are protected by copyright, unless specifically notified to the contrary. Externally sourced
information or material is copyright to the respective provider.
© Napier City Council