Maori ward deadline looms for city

Voters will have a chance to speak out over moves to create a Maori ward in Palmerston North in time for the next local body election.

Two public meetings are scheduled for this week amid public consultation on the idea.

The current council has no Maori councillors despite 16.5 per cent of Palmerston North’s population identifying as Maori.

It was hoped a Maori ward would ensure they had due representation on the council.

If a Maori ward is established, anyone registered on the Maori roll for the national election will be able to vote for the ward candidates.

The council has invited the public to have a say and submissions are open until September 15.

There will be two public meetings held next week to discuss the Maori ward options.

Council lawyer John Annabell said the number of Maori wards or representatives would follow a formula set out in the Local Electoral Act.

In Palmerston North’s case, with 8800 people enrolled on the Maori electoral roll, and with 15 council seats, it was likely there would be one or two Maori seats at the council table.

That could mean having one Maori ward, with up to two councillors to be elected, or two separate wards.

The first public meeting will be at the St Michael’s church marae complex, on Ellesmere Cres at 12pm on Tuesday. And the second will be at the city library at 5pm the following day.

After hearing submissions, the council will make a call in October. Its decision could be challenged if 5 per cent of voters demanded a poll.

This isn’t the first time a Maori ward has been considered – the council voted 8-5 against the idea after consultations in 2011.

Cr Rachel Bowen said it was time the city made ‘‘a mature and balanced’’ decision about Maori representation.

She said the introduction of single transferable voting was expected to bring a more diverse group of councillors and make it easier for Maori candidates to succeed.

‘‘But after two elections, that has still not been delivered.’’

Deputy mayor Tangi Utikere, who identified as a Pacific Islander, not Maori, voted in favour of establishing a Maori ward in 2011.

He still supported the idea, but has said it was just one way to ensure Maori involvement at council level.