Thursday, 11 March 2021, 1:08 pm
Wellington City Council has today agreed to take the next
steps toward creating a Māori Ward at the 2022 council
elections.
The Council’s Strategy and Policy
Committee voted 12-3 to support the creation of a Māori
Ward - a vote welcomed by Committee Chair Jill Day who has
driven the process to make a Māori Ward a reality in
Wellington.
The vote was welcomed by Mayor Andy
Foster, who congratulated Cr Day on what he described as an
important day for local democracy and equitable
representation.
Cr Day (Ngāti Tūwharetoa) says a
MONIQUE FORD / STUFF
Wellington City Council has agreed in principle to a notice of motion tabled by councillor Jill Day to establish a Māori ward in time for the 2022 election. (File photo)
Wellington City Council is pressing ahead with plans to establish a Māori ward in time for next year’s local body elections, a move that proponents say would give mana whenua a greater say in dealing with some of the capital’s problems. The proposal will now go to Māori for feedback but if it proceeds the new ward, represented by one additional councillor, would be set up in time for next year’s local elections.
Press Release – Wellington City Council
A national remembrance service will be held in Christchurch to mark the second anniversary of the Christchurch mosque attacks. And Wellington will be honouring the occasion too.
Mayor Andy Foster says the anniversary and commemorations are an opportunity to show unity and support for diversity and compassion.
“The country has shown what it can do when it works together side by side over the past year, and so we also need to stand together against intolerance and discrimination.
“We are an inclusive community in which we celebrate our differences, our communities, our histories, and face our challenges in solidarity,” adds the Mayor.
Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas, Lydia Anderson, Andrew McRae
The perfect storm of problems has Massey University senior lecturer Andy Asquith echoing a call late last year to hold a Royal Commission of Inquiry into local government.
Dr Asquith wants an overhaul of the sector which he says has become a joke to the public who have had enough of council squabbling.
Infighting, internal investigations and code of conduct complaints have plagued councils up and down the country in recent years, coming to a head at Tauranga City Council in November when an independent review identified significant governance issues.
Mayor Tenby Powell resigned and called for commissioners to be appointed, and the council was sacked by Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta and replaced by four commissioners.