February 05, 2021
New day for councils when Maori ward block lifted
Wellington City Councilor Jill Day is over the moon at the proposed change to the law that allows just 5 percent of voters to call for a binding referendum is councils decide to create Māori seats.
Ms Day filed a motion to establish a Māori ward at the next election the day before Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced the reform.
She says Wellington Council had previously shied away from taking that step because of the likelihood to would be overturned.
"It's always come back to the issue of the referendum and the fact (creating seats) just doesn't get through. There's always been a desire but just knowing that legislation makes it impossible as it was," Ms Day says.
The council is now waiting for details of the law change.
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