Council votes to retain Māori Wards for 2025 election

Elected Members voted in yesterday’s Council meeting to retain Te Ipu Wai Taketake Māori Wards for the 2025 election.

The vote in favour of retaining the Ward means that next year a binding poll will be held and the community will decide whether or not to retain Māori Wards for the 2028 and 2031 local elections.

The binding poll will take place at the same time as the 2025 local election. Māori Wards will remain in place for the 2025 triennium and the result of the poll will be applied at the following 2028 and 2031 elections.

Yesterday’s decision follows the passing of the Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2024 on 30 July 2024. The Act requires Councils to make a decision on whether to retain or disestablish Te Ipu Wai Taketake Māori Wards by 6 September 2024.

Go to p29 of the meeting agenda to view the report on this matter.
To view the meeting recording go to this link on Council’s YouTube channel

Other items on the agenda:

• Amendment to Standing orders
  Elected Members voted to amend the Council Standing Orders 2022 to align with the Local Government Electoral Legislation Act 2023. From 1 October 2024 this will provide for elected members attending meetings by audio link or audio visual link to be counted as present for the purposes of a quorum.
  While it remains a priority to have Elected Member present in person around the table, Councillors agreed to make the amendment to the Standing Orders to state that “members who attend meetings by audio link or audio visual link with permission of the Chair, will be counted as present for the purposes of a quorum”.
• Financial Update
  Go to p41 of the meeting agenda to view the report on this matter.
  To view the meeting recording go to this link on Council’s YouTube channel
• Te Arawa Partnerships Progress Report

Elected members received an update on Council’s financial performance for the twelve months ended 30 June 2024.

Councillors received a report on a number of activities underway to support how council works with Te Arawa through the Te Arawa Partnership.

Recent highlights include work with the Eastside community, a series of wānanga focussed on taking taonga Māori outside the museum to connect with iwi from which they originate, and building capability as well as providing cultural support across council business units.

Go to p52 of the meeting agenda to view the report on this matter.
To view the meeting recording go to this link on Council’s YouTube channel