Māori ward

Last week, Nelson Māori ward councillor Kahu Paki Paki delivered an emotional closing argument before councillors put forward their vote for the future of Māori wards.

Ruapehu District Council voted unanimously to retain its Māori Ward and will hold a binding poll in next year’s local body elections.

The new councillor said that the biggest challenge facing the council was the realisation that what was good for Māori was good for everyone. 

Palmerston North City Council voted to retain Te Pūao Māori ward and resolved to explore the implications of refusing to hold a binding referendum in October 2025.

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Melaina Huaki in May.

Kāpiti Coast District mayor Janet Holborow said re-affirming the decision to establish a Māori ward on Tuesday supported the position of the council's mana whenua partners.

Ruapehu District Council is calling public meetings to canvas views on whether to keep or remove its three Māori ward seats before the 2025 local elections.

Voting opens next week.

HRC fears the Government’s plans to implement ways to get rid of Māori wards will seriously test the relationship between local councils and their iwi and hapū constituents.

The report is the latest in a series of urgent inquiries by the tribunal into decisions by the new National Party-led government.