2024 Māori Wards Amendment Legislation

Background

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. 

Council’s preferred way forward

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:

• It guarantees Māori participation in decision-making.
• It helps enable a stronger bi-cultural perspective for Council planning and decision-making and create a balance of Te Ao Māori and tau iwi.
• It provides Māori with a voting voice at the table and ensures engagement on local issues.
• It creates a platform for Māori to grow and to have the confidence to put themselves forward as leaders.
• It will build Māori capacity in the leadership of our city and thus accelerate and broaden the socio-economic capacity.
• It is inclusive and provides fairness and equity for Māori at the Council table.
• To honour our obligations under the Local Government Act 2002 to enable pathways for Māori contribution to decision making.
• To recognise the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, The Treaty of Waitangi, as our founding document.
• It contributes to the wellbeings of the whole community.
• It responds to the overwhelming support of those submissions by those on the Māori Electoral Roll.

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.

What happens if Council reaffirms its decision to introduce Māori wards?

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.   

What happens if Council quashes its decision to introduce Māori wards?

If Council chooses to quash its 2021 decision, then there are two options:

1. It could either use the 2019 representation arrangements (that is, our current system of four general wards) for the 2025-28 term and then conduct a full Representation Review after the 2025 election, or:
2. A shortened Representation Review would need to take place without Māori wards being in the proposal. In this scenario, Council must decide on its initial proposal by 13 September 2024 and then undertake community consultation.

From the 2025 elections, electors could demand a poll to establish Māori wards or Council could consider introducing them.