The "natural boundary" of the Ngaruroro River will be used to create two new Māori constituencies as part of Hawke's Bay Regional Council's representation review. Photo / NZME
The "natural boundary" of the Ngaruroro River will be used to create two new Māori constituencies as part of Hawke's Bay Regional Council's representation review. Photo / NZME
The number of Hawke's Bay regional councillors is set to grow by two through the creation of two new Māori wards.
Council is currently seeking feedback on its proposed representation arrangements, part of a representation review which was triggered by its May decision to establish Māori wards ahead of the2022 elections.
The regional council has proposed to increase the total number of councillors from nine to 11, with two new councillors to be elected by voters registered on the Māori roll from two newly established Māori constituencies.
These will be established using the Ngaruroro River as a north-south boundary, with one from each, as recommended by tangata whenua representatives on the regional council's Māori and Regional Planning committees.
About 28,000 people in Hawke's Bay are on the Māori roll, with about 12,500 in the proposed northern ward and 15,500 in the proposed southern ward - this uneven split means an exemption will need to be sought from the Local Government Commission.
Current regional councillor Hinewai Ormsby will likely still stand in her Napier-Ahuriri constituency at the 2022 election, citing on a need for diversity on the general roll. Photo / NZME
Regional councillor for Napier, Hinewai Ormsby, said it had been a "long and robust journey" to reach this point.
"We had to balance the number of general constituencies with those on the Māori electoral roll. I think we got to a logical place."
She said there had been an assumption two Māori seats would be created and it was a question of how this would be arranged.
The "natural boundary" of the Ngaruroro River had been selected as the ward boundary "in line with Māori concepts of boundary".
It also made sense in relation to catchment make-ups and the regional council's work around this, she added.
Ormsby was also supportive of the proposal to incorporate Māori placenames like Ahuriri (Napier) and Heretaunga (Hastings) into council wards.
"We have a rich pre-colonisation history to tell and be proud of."
While she had not made a final decision, it seemed likely she would stand again in her current Napier constituency over a new Māori constituency at the 2022 elections.
"I still feel there's a need to have diversity on the general-roll election.
"I gained the confidence of the constituency quite convincingly."
Hawke's Bay Regional Council is seeking feedback on its representation review proposal to add two new Māori constituencies and incorporate Māori placenames. Photo / NZME
Ormsby had heard from some who were interested in running for the new seats, but not from anyone fully committed yet - she acknowledged it was still early days, though, with the representation review yet to be finalised.
She expected more would come forward in the new year and hoped to see excitement about the first Māori wards build again.
"This is us signalling what shape it will take. It's an exciting space to come into."
The representation review will also see some changes to the boundary between the Ngaruroro and (current) Wairoa general constituencies.
Leeanne Hooper, the regional council's electoral officer, said they wanted to hear from the public now on whether these and other changes reflect "the right approach to the future of decision-making at the regional council table".
Hawke's Bay people can make written submissions before 8pm on October 3.
The council will decide on final proposed arrangements for the 2022 local election at the end of October.
More information can be found at hbrc.govt.nz, by searching for #representation
