No immediate plans for Maori wards

Matamata-Piako is following other councils opting not to establish Ma¯ori wards for the 2019 local government election.

Waikato and Bay of Plenty regional councils have Ma¯ori wards but Waipa, Waikato and Hamilton councils voted against setting up Ma¯ori seats.

Matamata-Piako District Council has followed and decided to report on other options to engage Ma¯ori and review the situation in three years.

There was a concern establishing a Ma¯ori ward could divide the community but the council’s Te Manawhenua Forum supported a Ma¯ori ward.

Ma¯ori wards can be established by the council, or by poll, initiated by the council or electors.

Matamata-Piako mayor Barnes believed if a poll was run now, it’s likely the result would not be in favour. She said a Ma¯ori ward must be considered without causing ‘‘division’’.

‘‘I know I want my whole community to come with me, I don’t want division.’’

Barnes said council is reviewing the Heads of Agreement on the Te Manawhenua Forum.

‘‘Quite a few of the iwi are still negotiating with the crown and are not post Treaty settlement,’’ Matamata-Piako mayor she said. ‘‘In view of pending Treaty settlements, and the review of Heads of Agreement, we felt there were other ways to involve iwi indecision making and staff have been asked to report back on these options.

‘‘They will be in a better position in three years and we can review it for the 2022 elections.’’

Waikato Regional Council’s Regional councillor deputy chairwoman is asking councils not to be scared when considering Ma¯ori wards.

Tipa Mahuta, when interviewed after Waipa District Council’s decision on Ma¯ori seats, said she remembered the ‘‘polarising’’ conversations around the regional council’s decision to include two Ma¯ori seats about six years ago. Regional council chairman

‘‘But regional council works across a large amount of RMA issues which need the inclusion of Ma¯ori. It was a proactive way to include the partnership principle of the Treaty, so the council’s not just engaging people on specific sets of issues, but on a broad range the council covers.’’

Mahuta was the regional councillor for the Nga¯ Hau E Wha¯ ward while Kataaraina Hodge was the councillor for the Nga¯ Tai Ki Uta ward.

‘‘Ma¯ori wards are never going to form a majority on a council, on most councils the majority voice will be the mainstream.

‘‘Secondly, I stood in a general seat for regional council. I campaigned well but it’s mainly a farming community and it would be very difficult to get on.

‘‘I would also ask councillors, how well do they represent their Ma¯ori communities? And most would say they can’t, just as I say I could not represent the farming community because that’s not my knowledge base.’’

Waikato Regional Council decided to retain its two Ma¯ori seats recently. Some councillors voted against the idea of having ‘‘race-based seats’’ and that Ma¯ori no loner needed ‘‘tokenism’’ given the number of Ma¯ori MPs on the general roll.

Chairman Alan Livingstone disagreed and said councillors Mahuta and Hodge represented the Ma¯ori constituents well and had made valuable contributions to the regional council.

‘‘They are both very effective in particular at helping ensure Ma¯ori perspectives are taken into account, something which helps the council fulfil its legal obligations under various legislation, such as the RMA and Treaty settlements,’’ he said.

‘‘I know I want my whole community to come with me, I don't want division.’’ ‘‘I would also ask councillors, how well do they represent their Ma¯ori communities?’’ ‘‘They are both very effective in particular at helping ensure Ma¯ori perspectives are taken into account.’’