Listen Now: 
Download AudioAn organisation established to support greater Māori participation in local government says having 35 councils with Māori wards up for grabs in October is a golden opportunity for Māori.
Kirsty Barber from Taurikura NZ says it means Māori voters, who previously had little reason to get excited by local body elections, now have something to encourage them to fill in the ballots.
They can do it knowing it’s a vote for future generations.
“One of the powerful hashtags or pou around this is we need to be making mokopuna decisions. In other words, these are legacy decisions, not three years, old men around-a-table decisions. The future of our rangatahi, the future of our taiao, the future of our planet depends on local democracy,” Dr Barber says.
Just half of the regional and district councils will have Māori wards this time, but interest and participation will grow as more Māori are elected.
RELATED NEWS
