Putting it right - Undoing the wrongs of Nanaia Mahuta

Legislation has been introduced into Parliament to reinstate the right of local communities to have their say on Māori Wards.

The 40 or so local councils who introduced Māori Wards after Nanaia Mahuta removed the petition right, must either disestablish the Māori wards or hold a binding referendum at the time of next year’s local body elections (12 October).

A motion to disestablish Māori wards must be passed by the 6^th of September this year.

If a referendum is held, and a majority of electors vote “No" then their Māori ward(s) would be disestablished at the 2028 local body election.

The Justice Committee of Parliament is currently hearing submissions to the Bill. Democracy Northland has submitted that all four councils in Northland should be required to hold a referendum before the end of this year, if they don’t revoke their earlier decision to establish Māori wards. A spokesman for Democracy Northland, John Bain, said it’s about “putting things right”.

“The right was taken away from the more than 15,000 people who signed our petitions in 2021. That was anti-democratic and made worse because it was done retrospectively after our petitions had been validated. A binding referendum should be held before the end of this year and take effect from next year's local body election”.   

More information

Frank Newman: The Letter from Mayors & Chairs Here>>>