In the last 12 months, New Plymouth and South Taranaki district councils, and the Taranaki Regional Council, have all voted for Māori representation. One of the country’s smallest districts with a population of just under 10,000, of whom 14 per cent identify as Māori, councillors had the opportunity to green light the establishment of a Māori ward in Stratford in August last year. But they unanimously voted against it, opting to begin the process in 2024, so they had time to consult with their community.
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Stratford deputy mayor Alan Jamieson said what happened to Judd in New Plymouth had worried councillors when they made their first ward decision last year. (File photo)
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