June 24, 2024
Māori ward polls to be rammed through
The justice select committee has recommended a bill to reintroduce referendums for Māori wards be passed with only technical changes – but Labour and Green Party members on the committee wrote dissents slamming the process.
The majority report noted without comment that the Waitangi Tribunal found the Government’s prioritising of its political agenda over the desires of Māori for dedicated political representation at a local level breached the Crown’s duty to actively protect the rights and interests of Māori.
Reintroducing polls when councils want to create Maori seats was inequitable and discriminatory and a barrier for Māori representation in local government.
Labour members said the narrative by the Government that in some way Māori wards are inconsistent with “one person – one vote” was disingenuous, divisive, and appealing to the basest instinct of a small minority of New Zealanders.
The contrasted the bill with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s speech a Waitangi this year that he wanted Māori to thrive and that he believed in localism and devolution, not centralisation and control.
The Greens said past referendums have disempowered Māori voices at council and provided a platform for divisive and racist tactics that whip up fear.