South Wairarapa District councillors have voted unanimously to reaffirm their decision to create a Māori ward for the local elections in 2025. The decision to create a Māori ward for the 2025 triennium means that South Wairarapa will carry out a binding poll on Māori wards as part of the 2025 election process for 2028.
“We stand beside mana whenua and we have a strong desire to give Māori a voice in our district’s governance now and in the future,” says Mayor Martin Connelly.
Council Pou Māori Advisor Narida Hooper says when the majority of the district’s councillors voted yes to establishing a Māori ward in 2023, what she heard and felt was that “Those Councillors were thinking of the future they wanted for their tamariki and mokopuna to grow up in and that they recognised the value Māori bring to our communities, that Māori representation at local government level was a step towards a dynamic, innovative future.”
The council wishes to note that this decision was made because all of the council’s iwi partners unanimously agreed that a Māori ward would be the best way for the district’s Māori community to have representation at council.
The Mayor says the establishment of a Māori ward is a step towards giving voice to the mana whenua/tangata whenua of South Wairarapa.
“We have four communities of interest in the South Wairarapa – Featherston, Greytown, Martinborough and now Māori. We have voted to represent them all as they all reflect our communities.”
Mayor Connelly says the decision to create a Māori ward is the highlight of his mayoralty, to date.
“The council has a legal duty to improve Māori participation in our democracy. South Wairarapa District Council paved the way years ago with the establishment of our Māori Standing Committee and now we get the opportunity to strengthen policy and decision making across Council,” says Mayor Connelly.
“This takes nothing away from anyone but provides tremendous opportunity for Māori.”
- The council is asking for feedback from the community about representation for the district’s general wards, whether to retain community boards and options for rural representation as part of its current Representation Review, which closes on Sunday 8 September.
Notes for editors:
South Wairarapa District councillors agree that:
- South Wairarapa District Council agreed to establish a Māori ward in November 2023.
- Today councillors reaffirmed that 2023 decision.
- The decision was informed by strong unanimous support from all members of the Māori Standing Committee, as well as marae, whanau, hapū and iwi from the South Wairarapa.
- There will be a binding poll on Māori wards as part of the 2025 election process.
- The Government’s decision to override the Council’s democratic process with a legislative amendment will be a cost to ratepayers.
