Whakatāne District Council was unanimous in its decision at today’s (15 August) Ordinary Council meeting to retain Māori Wards for the 2025 triennial elections.
The decision came following the Coalition Government’s introduction of the Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Bill 2024 on 30 July 2024.
The new legislation requires councils to hold a binding poll at the 2025 local elections if they had established Māori Wards without holding a poll following an earlier amendment to the Act in 2021, or alternatively decide to disestablish Māori Wards for the next local elections in 2025.
Councils were required to make a decision by 6 September 2024 on the retention or disestablishment of Māori wards.
Today’s decision means voters in the 2025 Local Elections will be asked to vote on the Mayor, Councillors and three Māori Ward Councillors, whilst at the same time voting on the retention or disestablishment of Māori Wards for the 2028-31 triennium through a binding poll.
Council elected members included a resolution to seek legal advice on what the implications would be if Whakatāne District Council chose not to proceed with the binding poll.