Council wants discussion on Maori representation

Does Kaipara need a designated Maori representative to ensure that Maori have a voice on Kaipara District Council?

Legislation requires councils to consider whether they wish to establish Maori wards and in 2005 Kaipara District Council decided against separate representation at that time, electing instead to wait and see what effect Single Transferable Voting (STV) had on representation. However, STV has not resulted in any improvement in Maori representation on the Council.

Now it is again considering the issue which will affect the make-up of the Council for the 2010 and 2013 triennial elections and must decide its direction by 23 November. To help it make an informed decision it wants feedback from both Maori and non Maori and will seeking this informally at 12 public consultation meetings around the District later this month, in conjunction with the 2008/09 Annual Plan.

If, as a result, the Council decides to proceed further there will be more formal consultation, including marae meetings, before a final decision is made.

Mayor Neil Tiller is urging residents to take an interest and attend the consultation meetings.

“At the 2006 census 3810 of Kaipara’s 18,132 residents classified themselves as Maori so it is important that they are represented at the Council,” he says.

“The question is whether this can best be done by separate representation, by encouraging strong Maori candidates to stand in general wards or through other means like iwi liaison committees.”

If Kaipara retains its present representative structure of eight councillors plus a mayor, 2006 Census figures would entitle Maori to one councillor seat and the number of general councillors would reduce to seven, requiring existing ward boundaries to be re-drawn.

At this stage Bay of Plenty Regional Council is the only territorial authority to have implemented specific Maori representation.

The consultation meetings are:

Saturday 15 March: 9am to 11am Paparoa Farmers Market.

Tuesday 18 March: 10am to noon Tinopai Community Hall. 1.30pm to 3pm Matakohe hall, 4pm to 6pm Ruawai Tokatoka War Memorial Hall.

Wednesday 19 March: 10am to noon Rangitane Hall, 1.30pm to 3.30pm Te Kopuru Coronation Hall, 4pm to 6pm Baylys Beach Church Hall. 

Thursday 27 March: 10am to noon Kaihu Rugby Clubrooms, 1pm to 3pm Tangiteroria Sports Complex, 4pm to 6.30pm Dargaville Town Hall foyer.

Saturday 29 March: 9am to noon Maungaturoto Centennial Hall, 1pm to 5pm Mangawhai Domain Hall.