But not all around the Strategy and Operations Committee table agreed, with councillors Murray Chong and Richard Jordan voting against the recommendation. Chong, who has championed a petition calling for a referendum on NPDC s Māori ward, said he wanted to see more binding referendums as they were about hearing from the community.
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Councillor Murray Chong said he wanted more referendums, not just on Māori wards. He referred to the last time the council approved a Māori ward, which was later overturned in a referendum. “Six years ago they thought they had it right. A referendum showed what the people were thinking,” he said.