October 07, 2022
Māori wards to transform councils
Gisborne-based Green list MP Elizabeth Kerekere is confident tomorrow’s local body election will transform the district.
A number of iwi and hapū leaders are standing for the council, and Rhonda Tibble is running for the mayoralty.
“Whatever happens Māori wards ensure we’ve got five of 13 are Māori but we also have several Māori who are already on council and it’s pretty likely we are going to get them back as well so it’s a major change and I think Tairawhiti is embracing it,” Dr Kerekere says.
Voting closes at noon on Saturday, so people need to get their forms into the ballot boxes in libraries, council offices and supermarkets.