Have your say on Māori wards for Whanganui
Published on 07 August 2023
Whanganui District Council is inviting the community to give feedback on whether Māori wards should be established within the council.
The outcome will feed into the representation review which addresses how the council is made up, such as the total number of councillors and whether there are community boards in the district.
Māori wards can provide a way for Māori to contribute to decision-making and have representation at the council.
Mayor Andrew Tripe says, “Should Māori wards be introduced into the council, successful candidates would serve as councillors. While they would have a particular responsibility to represent people of Māori descent and advocate for Māori perspectives, they would also represent the interests of the entire community.
“Establishing Māori wards is a means for councils to uphold the principle of partnership outlined in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, ensuring holistic representation at the council.”
Having Māori wards is optional and at present, 35 councils across New Zealand have implemented wards or constituencies.
“The council’s relationships with iwi and hapū are also governed by Te Tiriti and informed by the values enshrined in Te Awa Tupua legislation. They are significant across the breadth of decision-making and activities of the council and we will always continue to develop and deepen how we engage and partner with Māori,” says Mayor Andrew. “Implementing Māori wards would not mean that matters impacting Māori would be limited to them alone.
“Māori wards are another way, or mechanism, to provide representation – and worth careful consideration in our Whanganui context.”
Māori wards would come into effect during the local elections in 2025. People enrolled on the Māori electoral roll can vote for candidates standing for Māori wards, while those on the general electoral roll can vote for candidates standing for general wards.
To find out more and to fill in a survey to submit your feedback, visit the Have Your Say page.
Alternatively, email your questions and comments to MaoriWards@whanganui.govt.nz. Feedback will be received up until midnight, 8 September 2023.
For further information, please refer to the frequently asked questions on the Have Your Say page via the link above.