March 29, 2019
Hastings to hear Māori voice
Hastings District councillors have voted in favour of appointing Māori representatives with voting rights to its four standing committees.
Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said the decision means the Council will be more inclusive and hear the voice of iwi partners.
Māori make up 25 percent of the district’s population.
The appointees to the community development, finance, strategy and works and services committees will be drawn from the Māori Joint Committee, whose members are selected for their sound understanding of issues facing council and their skills, experiences and knowledge of te ao Māori.
The council says the process is the same as it has used to appoint non-elected representatives to other standing committees such the Audit and Risk Committee and the Hearings Committee.
Although the Hastings District Council currently has five councillors who have identified as being of Māori descent, they were elected on their wider merits, rather than on a solely Māori mandate.
Before voting, an amendment was put forward to hold a poll to garner the views of the community but the majority of councillors rejected this.
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