Ma¯ori-wards opposition falls flat in Taranaki

Petitions instigated by the Hobsons Pledge Trust to overturn the establishment of Ma¯ori wards in Taranaki failed, even before the law changed to prevent their success.

The Local Electoral (Ma¯ori Wards and Ma¯ori Constituencies) Amendment Bill came into effect on Thursday, removing the right for a petition signed by five per cent of electors to demand a binding poll on a Ma¯ ori ward.

But petitions were being circulated in nine communities around New Zealand where councils had voted to establish a Ma¯ ori ward, before Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced the law change was coming in New Plymouth on February 1.

New Plymouth District Council voted 12-2 for a Ma¯ ori ward in July 2020, and South Taranaki District Council voted unanimously in November to establish one.

Within days petitions against the move started circulating but neither reached the threshold needed.

The New Plymouth District Council (NPDC) did not receive a petition before the cutoff day of February 22, a council spokesperson said.

South Taranaki District Council (STDC) received a petition, but staff found duplicated signatures and other errors in it.

‘‘A petition was received on Monday, but it didn’t have enough validated signatures to meet the 887 elector threshold,’’ communications manager Gerard Langford said.

Had either petition reach the numbers the councils would have had to follow the Whangarei District Council, which received the petition while the old law was still in place so had to advertise a poll, then advertise again a few days later to cancel it under the new law.

The news that petitions in Taranaki failed, even without the law change, has delighted Ma¯ ori ward backers.

‘‘Society has definitely moved on, local government has moved on. The decisions that these councils have made are local decisions made by local people who understand their local communities,’’ former STDC Councillor and current Coastal Community Board member Bonita Bigham, of Ngaruahine and Te Atiawa, said.

‘‘There’s less fear about iwi motives these days and I think that’s because iwi have had the opportunities to contribute in ways they hadn’t had before... there have been multiple opportunities for people to see that Ma¯ ori aspirations align with their own aspirations, everyone wants the best for our tamariki and mokopuna, we just have a different lens.’’

Puna Wano-Bryant, of Rongomou Community Action, a group which has worked to promote the need for Ma¯ ori wards, said there had been a sea change in the community.

‘‘People are more informed, more confident to support this, they understand the change adds value to local government and democracy. I think a lot of myths have been busted.’’

Te Pa¯ ti Ma¯ ori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said her party was celebrating the law’s passing.

‘‘The passage of this bill through Parliament is a huge win for the tireless campaigners and local elected members from across the motu who have ensured this issue was on the agenda of the Government,’’ she said.

‘‘We acknowledge the leaders of this kaupapa, rangatira like Toni Boynton, Andrew Judd, Rongomou Community Action, and the Ma¯ ori local elected members’ network, Te Maruata. It is through their years and years of relentless advocacy and campaigning that we’ve reached this milestone today.

Meanwhile, the deadline for councils to consider Ma¯ori wards has been extended to May 21, 2021, giving them more time to decide if they want to introduce them.