November 30, 2014
Fox battles Bennett indifference
The Maori Party is unhappy with answers it is getting from the Government about Maori representation on local government.
Prompted by the struggle New Plymouth mayor Andrew Judd is having to get a Maori seat on his council, MP Marama Fox asked Local Government Minister Paula Bennett what initiatives are underway to increase tangata whenua representation at local and district level.
Ms Bennett said she had no plans to make changes to the current settings, although officials are working on further advice for her to consider next year.
She would like to see more Maori standing for councils on their own merit, but the government won’t give councils any funding to increase Maori participation.
Ms Fox says less than 6 percent of local government representatives identify as Maori, and more needs to be done.
A bill put up by co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell four years ago would have required all territorial authorities and regional councils to establish Maori wards and constituencies, but he could not get support from National.
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