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Māori ward campaigners are thrilled the Labour government is using urgency to push through a bill to get rid of a public veto on Māori wards.
Whakatāne Māori wards campaigners Toni Boynton and Danae Lee (centre and left) are excited there may soon be Māori wards on the Whakatāne District Council following Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta’s (left) announcement the government will be looking at changing the law.
Photo: Supplied
Whakatāne women Toni Boynton and Danae Lee of Te Rōpū Tautoko Māori were at the forefront of the town s own battle to have Māori wards instated on the district council in 2018, but lost out through a binding poll in which less than 50 percent of the voting population took part.
Liz Davies: The tide is turning for better understanding of te ao Māori
5 Feb, 2021 08:00 PM
4 minutes to read
OPINION
I am sensing an encouraging turning of the tide with regard to a better understanding and appreciation of te ao Māori. On what basis have I come to this conclusion? - The overwhelming support for the transfer of Panepane Point from Western Bay of Plenty District Council to the original owners of the land, the five local hapū of Matakana Island and the transfer of land on Mission St, Tauranga from Tauranga City Council to a local Māori land Trust.
Northland Māori seats poll petition to be delivered despite looming law change
3 Feb, 2021 04:00 PM
4 minutes to read
John Bain (left) and fellow Democracy Northland campaigner Robin Grieve outside the Northland Regional Council building in Whangarei. Photo / Susan Botting
Susan Botting is the Local Democracy Reporter for Northlandsusan.botting@northernadvocate.co.nz
More than 14,000 signatures from Northlanders wanting to have their say on three Tai Tokerau councils Māori seats decisions will still be delivered to the councils.
This is in spite of the Government this week announcing it is removing the legislation that allows such petitions to happen.
The signatures - across three Democracy Northland petitions - make up New Zealand s biggest polling demand from local electors pushing to have their say on already-made decisions by Northland Regional Council (NRC), Whangārei District Council (WDC) and Kaipara District Council (KDC) in favour of Māori seats.