Council decisions
21 May 2021
Rotorua Lakes Council has today voted to establish Māori wards in time for the 2022 local government elections.
Finalising of details for the wards will happen as part of a representation review that will happen later this year and will look at the make-up of the Council as a whole, including Māori wards and the community boards. The review will involve extensive community engagement and consultation.
Council also today agreed to:
- carry out a wider review of Rotorua Lakes Council's governance framework including the purpose, membership and powers of committees and community boards;
- discuss with Te Arawa and the wider community the possibilities of strengthening co-governance.
Elected members present for today's vote, following presentation of the recommendations, questions and discussion, voted 6-2 in favour of the recommendations presented.
The recommendation to introduce Māori wards came from Te Tatau o Te Arawa, the board established to give effect to the Council's partnership with Te Arawa. The board recently undertook consultation with Te Arawa, which resulted in support for establishing Māori wards and also retaining Te Tatau.
The Council chamber was full for today's meeting.
Gina Rangi, Council's Manahautū Māori / Group Manager Māori, presented the report for consideration of Māori wards today, outlining the content of the report and the considerations taken into account in making the recommendations.
The report noted that when Council adopted the Te Arawa Partnership Model in 2015 Te Arawa did not seek to establish Māori Wards, partly because Māori Wards did not adequately provide for accountability to mana whenua and partly because of the contentious nature of the Local Electoral Act 2001 poll provisions in force at that time.
In March this year the Local Electoral (Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2021 ended all mechanisms for binding polls on Māori wards or Māori constituencies, and created a transition period (ending 21 May 2021) to enable local authorities to make a decision on Māori wards in time for the 2022 local elections.
Earlier this month Te Tatau provided their consultation findings to Council. Their report Consideration of Māori Wards and Māori Representation for Rotorua District records that Te Arawa supports the establishment of Māori wards for the 2022 election and retention of Council's partnership with Te Tatau o Te Arawa. Accordingly, Te Tatau o Te Arawa has formally requested the establishment of Māori wards for the 2022 election (and retention of Te Tatau o Te Arawa); and that the representation review to follow reflects the outcome of the establishment of Māori wards.
The Te Tatau report records strong views from Te Arawa that local government arrangements should reflect Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and that this is a broader discussion than whether to establish Māori wards.
Representation reviews are required under the Local Electoral Act council to be undertaken at least every six years, requiring comprehensive public engagement to consider: the total number of members for Council; if wards are created, the number, name and boundaries of each ward; and the number of Community boards, their membership and boundaries.
Rotorua Lakes Council last undertook a representation review in 2015/16 and the next review is scheduled for later in the year.
Today's report said the decision on Māori wards should be considered within the context of current local government reforms including re-introducing local government responsibility for the four wellbeings, 3 Waters Reform, repeal and replacement of the RMA and the recently announced Local Government Review. Ms Rangi said considering this context now would ensure Rotorua Lakes Council was well prepared to have input into and participate in these reforms.
The report notes that to adequately address the current reform process and future shape of local government, Council should also reflect on its governance framework including:
- The purpose and membership of Council's committees;
- The powers of Council committees (ie recommendation only, or exercise some delegated powers);
- The purpose and membership of community boards;
- A discussion with Te Arawa and broader community about the possibilities of co-governance (noting that co-governance is a broad term that encompasses collaborative decision-making, respecting the mana and different roles/responsibilities of Council and of iwi - such as the Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group).
Voters in New Zealand are registered on either the General Roll or the Māori Roll and the current Rotorua District electoral population is 77,300 with 55,600 (72%) currently registered on the General Roll and 21,700 (28%) registered on the Māori Roll.
Therefore, if Māori wards are introduced, 28% (or thereabouts) of elected members would come from the Māori wards, and 72% from general wards. Based on 10 elected members, this means 3 from the Māori ward and 7 from the general ward.
If a Māori ward is established, residents on the Māori electoral roll will vote in the Māori ward, and residents on the General electoral roll will vote in the general ward. All voters will also be able to vote for any at large' roles (such as the mayor), and for a relevant community board.
Māori wards are subject to the same population ratio rules as general wards, ensuring all representation at the council is fair.
The introduction of Māori wards means voters on the Māori electoral roll will be able to vote for candidates contesting Council's Māori wards for mayor. Voters on the general roll will be able to vote for other candidates and for mayor.