A potential referendum on Maori wards for the Hastings District Council needs to be swiftly stopped. There are many reasons both for and against Maori wards, all with merit, yet the most important reason is unlikely to be at the forefront of the debate.
Maori wards will be extremely contentious,and result in a divisive debate between proponents and opponents. The debate has the potential to be even more divisive than the amalgamation debate, creating wounds as deep as that debate caused.
A Maori Ward referendum will take the focus of council away from the issues that council should be prioritising. Water, keeping rates under control and freeing up land for housing are all important issues that will likely get lost if we are debating Maori wards.
The results of referendums in areas with similar demographics to Hastings have been one sided. The voters have firmly voted against Maori wards, and there has been little gained from having the referendum at the expense of a massive and unnecessary argument.
Hawkes Bay lost several years senselessly debating amalgamation. There was never any chance of amalgamation being achieved through a referendum, and the resulting arguments have meant that any chance of building goodwill between Hastings District, Napier City and Hawkes Bay Regional Councils will likely have to wait until those who fought the amalgamation issue are out of politics.
The irony is a Maori ward referendum at the same time as a mayoral by election will almost inevitably result in a Maori Mayor. Maori will turn out in high numbers in a low turnout by election. A single Maori candidate running against a group of Paheka candidates will have a huge advantage in the mayoral election.
A Maori ward referendum has the potential to create the same kind of division the unnecessary amalgamation debate did.
It will take focus away from the important issues that council should be dealing with instead.
