Maori seat on council supported

"One seat is better than none." Whitiora Paterangi

A proposed Maori voting ward to ensure at least one or two Maori are elected to the Palmerston North City Council has found support at a public meeting.

Speakers at Tuesday’s meeting in Highbury said the process was far from perfect, and it was not the way they would have chosen to ensure Maori took part in council decision-making.

But, attendee Whitiora Paterangi was won over by the end of the meeting, and thanked the council for putting the proposal out for discussion. ‘‘One seat is better than none. ‘‘If we have one voice, standing there with your people behind you, that voice can be stronger than 100.’’

Rangitane iwi has put its support behind the creation of a Maori ward or wards for the 2019 local body elections.

Representative Chris Whaiapu said the process was not developed or set up by Maori, and was in conflict with Maori values.

‘‘But it is the only process we have to get to the council table.

‘‘And once we are there, we might be able to make a difference for the future.’’

The way a Maori ward would be set up was explained to the gathering of about 30 people by council electoral officer John Annabell and Maori adviser Todd Taiepa.

The number of Maori seats created depended on how many councillors there were overall, and the number of Maori enrolled on the Maori roll.

Annabell said if the council stayed with a council of 15, the 8800 voters on the Maori roll would get to elect two councillors.

But with Maori making up almost one in five city residents, speakers said that was hardly a fair share.

The problems raised were that some Maori were not enrolled, and some were on the general roll.

Taiepa said the Maori population was young, with many too young to vote at all.

Taiepa said the same Maori roll that was used for general elections would also be used for local government elections.

Some Maori did not think that was appropriate because they felt there were different issues influencing their choice of MPS than their choice of councillors.

And Maori would only be able to vote for the candidates standing in the Maori ward, and would not be able to influence the makeup of the rest of the council.

City councillor Karen Naylor said councillors had an open mind about whether having Maori seats was the right thing to do, and wanted to hear from the community.

‘‘But we do have a desire to have better engagement with Maori... and our current electoral process is not delivering Maori representation.’’

She said there were other ways Maori could be represented, such as through a Maori standing committee, or Maori appointments to committees.

Submissions to the council on whether to establish a Maori ward or wards close on September 15.

The council will hear people who wish to speak to their submissions on October 2, and is then expected to make a decision on October 24.

Voters can challenge the council decision if 5 per cent of them sign a petition by February 21, 2018, demanding a poll on the issue.

A second consultation meeting will be held at the Palmerston North City Library today from 5pm to 7pm.