October 01, 2014
No place for Maori wards in sulphur city
Long serving Rotorua District councillor Trevor Maxwell says each town has its unique issues, and for his town he’s opposed to separate Maori wards.
New Plymouth District Council has voted to introduce a Maori seat that will be voted on by people on the Maori electoral roll.
Mayor Andrew Judd has challenged other councils to follow suit.
But Mr Maxwell says Rotorua has come out against any ward, let alone Maori ones.
"Here in Rotorua many of us have felt we would rather see our people stand up and be counted at large, rather than two, maybe three at a pinch might come in on a Maori ward and you don't have a say on the other nine who will be elected to council," he says.
Trevor Maxwell says Rotorua elected three Maori councillors who were elected under its at large system, including Merepeka Raukawa Tait who topped the poll.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH TREVOR MAXWELL CLICK ON THE LINK
http://www.waateanews.com/play_podcast?podlink=MjI2MTY=
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