Listen Now: 
New Plymouth voters have overwhelmingly rejected the introduction of a Maori electoral ward for the next district council elections.
There was an 83 percent no vote in the binding referendum.
The turn out was 45 percent.
Mayor Andrew Judd says the council must now reconsider how best to engage with Maori and enable their participation in decision-making, as it is required to do by law.
Meanwhile at a regional level Taranaki iwi are set to get a say.
As part of their treaty settlements, Te Atiawa, Taranaki and Ngaruahine negotiated places on Taranaki Regional Council’s policy and planning and consents and regulatory committees.
Te Korowai o Ngaruahine Trust general manager Cassandra Crowley told the council’s long term plan submissions hearing this week that the appointments would be merit-based and appointees would have appropriate knowledge, skills and capability to participate in each committee.
Copyright © 2015, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
RELATED NEWS
