Māori Wards: Act blasts Palmerston North City Council move to keep Māori seats without referendum

• The Act Party opposed Māori wards, but David Seymour “accepts that it should be up to local people by referendum to decide if they want them”.
• Kaipara District Council has voted to disestablish its Māori ward, becoming the first council to do so under new rules.
• The Palmerston North City Council members voted unanimously to retain Te Pūao Māori Ward seats.

The Palmerston North City Council has voted to keep the Te Pūao Māori Ward but seeks to retain the ward’s two seats without the required referendum.

The Act Party has criticised the council-supported amendment to find out more information on the implications of avoiding a referendum, labelling it as a “race-based” decision.

A report on the potential implications of refusing to hold a referendum will be presented at an upcoming council meeting.

The council decision made yesterday comes after government legislation came into force requiring councils to decide by next month whether to retain or disestablish their Māori wards.

If councils vote to retain them, they must hold a binding referendum alongside the next local elections at their own cost.

Concerns were raised at the community meeting that without the ward in Palmerston North, the community would lose mana and democratic representation.

Discover more

• What you need to know about Māori wards...
• Kaipara District Council votes to disestablish Māori ...
• Legislation requiring local councils to hold polls ...
• Māori ward debate: New Plymouth councillor Murray Chong’s ...

Act local government spokesman Cameron Luxton said: “The council is playing with fire here. Coming from Tauranga I’ve experienced firsthand one option available to the minister – having the council replaced with commissioners.

“For Act’s part, we believe voters are capable of making decisions together as a community, not as two separate groups divided by race because the basic problems councils exist to solve are not race-based.”

In a display of absolute contempt for the views of ratepayers, Palmerston North City Council says it will investigate disregarding the law and refusing to hold a referendum on Māori wards.

ACT Local Government spokesperson Cameron Luxton says:

"The council is playing with fire… pic.twitter.com/IXhw4AMO3y

— ACT New Zealand (@actparty) August 7, 2024

Mayor Grant Smith highlighted the community’s relationship with Māori and mana whenua Rangitāne, reiterating that the community had nothing to fear.

“Palmerston North has nothing to fear and carries on a fine tradition of council working together with Māori for over 150 years. Our Māori Ward system works for us and our Te Pūao Māori Ward – Deputy Mayor Debi Marshall-Lobb and Councillor Roly Fitzgerald – have enriched our council and community through their advice and service.

“Our relationship with Rangitāne is exemplary in the country. We’re one of three out of 78 councils that have tangata whenua on our council crest, and one of the few cities to have a statue of an indigenous leader – Te Peeti Te Awe Awe, which was erected in 1907 in our city centre. We have a great partnership with Rangitāne o Manawatū, and we’re so proud of this.”

The Palmerston North City Council has shown overwhelming support for retaining Te Pūao Māori Ward. Photo / Palmerston North City Council

Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) told RNZ that Māori wards allow Māori to be part of decision-making and have representation on local councils.

LGNZ said these wards are a way for councils to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Elected members at the Palmerston North City Council meeting were concerned about the short timeframes set by the Government, which don’t allow time for public consultation.

Kaipara District Council voted to disestablish its Māori ward, becoming the first council to do so under new rules.

In a tense meeting earlier this week, councillors voted six to three in favour of disestablishing the Te Moananui o Kaipara Māori ward. Councillor Rachael Williams abstained.

Protesters at the Kaipara District Council meeting on Māori wards. Photo / Michael Craig

Protesters outside the meeting erupted into a haka and banged on the meeting venue walls.

The ward will stay until the next local election.