A Māori ward is back on the cards in Marlborough after the government announced sweeping changes to a racist law.
Massey University Māori historian and senior lecturer Dr Peter Meihana, who was mana whenua, says a change to Māori ward laws is long overdue .
Photo: Chloe Ranford/LDR
The Marlborough District Council decided not to introduce Māori wards before the November deadline last year, under the region s latest review of its representation arrangements, as there was no interest lodged by iwi or the wider public.
But it will give the issue a second shake following Minister of Local Government Nanaia Mahuta announced that a law relating to Māori wards would be changed. The changes extended the deadline for decisions on Māori wards to May.