Marlborough councillors have voted to establish a Māori ward.
Tears ran as the Marlborough District Council made the landmark decision to create a Māori ward on Friday. Twelve councillors voted in favour of establishing a Māori ward councillor position at an extraordinary meeting at the Marlborough Events Centre on Friday morning. One voted against and one did not show up for the vote. Haka erupted from mana whenua following the decision. Councillors stood and responded with ‘Te Aroha’, a waiata about peace and love, and the audience joined in. The decision meant Marlborough will have one Māori ward councillor position from next year’s election. The Māori ward councillor could be voted in by people living anywhere in the region, as happens with the mayor, so long as those people were from the region’s Māori electoral population.
News from LDR
Tears ran as the Marlborough District Council made the landmark decision to create a Māori ward. Twelve councillors voted in favour of establishing a Māori ward councillor position at an extraordinary meeting at the Marlborough Events Centre. One voted against and one did not show up for the vote.
Haka erupted from mana whenua following the decision. Councillors stood and responded with ‘Te Aroha’, a waiata about peace and love, and the audience joined in.
The decision means Marlborough will have one Māori ward councillor position from next year’s election. The Māori ward councillor could be voted in by people living anywhere in the region, as happens with the mayor, so long as those people are from the region’s Māori electoral population.
While Nelson MP Rachel Boyack said it was an "important step forward", National MP Nick Smith said it was wrong not to consult the community.