If you want a M¯aori ward ask for it - TRC

Taranaki regional councillors have voted against establishing a Ma¯ ori ward at the next local body elections but left open the opportunity for a public poll on the matter if more than five per cent of electors demand it.

In August the council introduced six permanently appointed iwi representatives to council standing committees in accordance with Treaty of Waitangi settlements with three iwi, Nga¯ ruahine, Te Atiawa and Taranaki.

There was also opportunities for consultation between Ma¯ori and council staff, the meeting heard yesterday. Te Ka¯ hui o Taranaki chief executive Wharehoka Wano said eight Taranaki iwi were fully involved in the appointment of the six iwi members on the regional council committees.

‘‘We are pleased that these appointees are able to speak on behalf of tangata whenua here in Taranaki,’’ he said.

Taranaki Regional Council had voted three times in the lead up to local elections in 2003, 2005 and 2011 not to have a Ma¯ ori constituency.

Long serving regional councillor Tom Cloke said the issue had been discussed fully on the previous occasions and public polls had shown there was not a high demand to have separate Ma¯ori wards introduced.

A poll in 2015 undertaken by the New Plymouth District Council showed 17 per cent supported Ma¯ ori constituencies being established, and 83 per cent were against it.

The poll attracted 25,338 votes, or 45 per cent of eligible electors.

Of the total votes, 21,053 people voted against, and 4285 supported, a Ma¯ ori ward.

Former mayor Andrew Judd was roundly chastised by the public for his support to establish the wards in New Plymouth.

In the same year the Far North District Council reported 32 per cent in favour, and 68 per cent against. TRC councillor Donald McIntyre said another poll may produce similar results.

‘‘It may not be money well invested to have another poll,’’ he said.

Councillor Charlotte Littlewood said the iwi appointed representative model on the council committees was working well.

The regional council is bound by the Local Electoral Act, as part of the representation review, to consider whether to establish Ma¯ori constituencies two years out from the next local body elections. The Act provided for Ma¯ ori constituencies to be established on regional councils.

Under a legislative formula, only one Ma¯ori constituency would be established in the region.

The council considered this would under-represent the three iwi in Taranaki.

TRC chief executive Basil Chamberlain said the regional council had passed beyond the ‘‘archaic formula’’ used to decide Ma¯ ori representation on the council.

‘‘There are now iwi representatives on council committees, and the council is a decade further on from previous thinking,’’ he said.

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Waikato Regional Council both have Ma¯ ori constituency representation.