Bay of Plenty gives nod to Maori council seats

By ROSALEEN MacBRAYNE and JO-MARIE BROWN

Environment Bay of Plenty has voted to set up two Maori seats at next year's local government elections.

The decision leads the way for other regional councils and comes after years of heated debate.

Although still to be approved by the Local Government Commission, the proposal leaves the total number of seats on the council at 12. Tauranga keeps four members but Rotorua and the Eastern Bay of Plenty each lose a general seat to Maori.

Council chairman John Cronin said the Maori seats would allow "a more consistent representation of the true make-up of our community".

Councillors decided to cut the number of general seats because, he said, "we realise the community does not want to see more politicians".

The two new constituencies, Taimoana and Tuawhenua, reflect the coastal and inland locations of the region's Maori population, as well as the "communities of interest" of the two main Bay of Plenty waka, Te Arawa and Mataatua.

Taimoana takes in the Tauranga harbour area and much of the Eastern Bay of Plenty, excluding Kawerau. Tuawhenua runs from the Western Bay of Plenty coast through Rotorua to the Taupo boundary.

Residents who choose to be on the parliamentary Maori rolls for general elections will vote on the Maori seats.

The Maori constituency empowering legislation was introduced to Parliament by MP Mita Ririnui in 2000 after lengthy public consultation and a report from former judge Peter Trapski, who chaired the hearings.

Mr Cronin said "very strong representations" had been made for several years by the Maori community, which made up 28 per cent of the region's population.

The Maori seat proposal is open for public comment before it goes to the Local Government Commission.