February 13, 2024
Māori wards set for next election
Northland Regional Council deputy chair Tui Shortland, says the coalition Government may be too late to achieve its target or undermining Māori wards on local councils before the next election.
The Government wants to bring back the referendums which had slowed the establishment of Māori wards since the option was put into the Local Government Act more than a decade ago.
Ms Shortland, who represents Te Raki Māori ward, says councils have been through the statutory representation reviews for the 2025 local body elections.
“So, for Tai Tokerau – for Northland Regional Council – we’re already having it. And this is the thing we need to keep in mind, is that government can say one thing, but they’ve delegated sovereignty to local and regional government to carry out certain mandated work,” she says.
The government can change the laws through the parliamentary process, but it takes time and could have to overcome challenges to the courts and the Waitangi Tribunal.
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