Editorial: The long road to Maori wards

The issue of Maori wards has arisen again in Rotorua, with moves to conduct a districtwide poll on the issue.

The Rotorua District Council's Te Arawa Standing Committee has debated the topic and been briefed on the process of conducting a poll, and it would seem the road to Maori wards could be a long one.

First, 5 per cent of local registered voters would need to sign a petition seeking a poll. Then most of those voting in the poll would need to back the call for Maori wards. The council would then be obliged to revisit the issue before the 2016 local body elections. Even then the council may vote it down.

Maori Party MP Te Ururoa Flavell, who holds the local Maori electorate seat, called in The Daily Post last month for dedicated Maori seats on the district council, with the proportion of seats representing the proportion of local Maori.

His call was in response to dissatisfaction over the issue of flying Maori flags on Waitangi Day, and the view that the standing committee lacked, well, standing.

Yesterday The Daily Post reported the committee was divided over plans for the poll.

Potaua Biasiny-Tule said the voice of Maori on the council was often ignored and having permanent Maori wards would help redress the balance.

Rene Mitchell said the committee would probably be disbanded if Maori wards were introduced, while Kingi Biddle said it was about ensuring Te Arawa had a voice on the council. Trevor Maxwell said he always supported districtwide elections in which people were elected on merit, otherwise there might be "no need for the committee".

Rotorua Mayor Kevin Winters last month said there were three Maori councillors and Maori were well represented on the council.

But what about in years to come? Maori on the council are not there solely to represent Maori, and there's no guarantee of representation at the council table.

At least with Maori seats there will be councillors whose mandate is provided by local Maori, whose interests they will represent.

The standing committee is a separate issue, and perhaps its future should be discussed as such.

According to the council's website, the committee reviews council matters which "affect the resources of Te Arawa tribes, sub-tribes, hapu and whanau".

There would still be such a role for the committee, as well as Maori wards, though it would make sense for Maori ward councillors to be members of the standing committee.

You can have your say: sign the petition, if and when it appears, vote in the subsequent poll, write a letter to the editor - that'd be me - comment on our website or even send a text.