The Far North District Council is rejecting the government's three waters restructuring plan, with the council last week voting to provisionally opt out.
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Far North District Council votes for Māori wards
4 May, 2021 07:27 AM
3 minutes to read
Moko Tepania speaks to his Māori wards call at the meeting. Photo / Susan Botting
Far North District Council has today voted in favour of Māori wards. I m so excited about the future, Moko Tepania, Far North District Council (FNDC) councillor said after the meeting.
The council voted 7:3 to bring in Māori wards after an intense, emotion-filled debate in a packed Kaikohe council chambers that spilled out into the council foyer and beyond to the neighbouring Kaikohe War Memorial Hall.
Councillor Moko Tepania hugs his mother Te Aroha Tepania after the successful FNDC vote for Māori wards. Photo / Susan Botting
Far North District Council will next week go back to the table on Māori wards as its Te Ao Māori lead forces an extraordinary meeting on the subject.
Moko Tepania, Far North District councillor and teacher at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Kaikohe.
Photo: Northern Advocate / supplied
Moko Tepania (Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa/Te Rarawa) is forcing a special extraordinary council meeting on Monday with a notice of motion to his council that it once again consider Māori wards.
Pita Tipene.
Photo: Northern Advocate / supplied
Ngāti Hine leader Pita Tipene said the time had come for Far North District Council (FNDC) mayor John Carter and his council to vote in favour of Māori wards.