In late 2017, Council considered and voted in favour of introducing Māori Wards in the District. The Council has now received a petition demanding that a poll of electors be undertaken on the decision, which triggered a referendum on the issue. The brochure below provides more information in a downloadable format.

Māori Wards Poll brochure - (PDF, 391 KB)

Māori Wards Update 2021

An announcement in February 2021 on Māori representation from the Hon Nanaia Mahuta, Minister for Local Government, gave councils the opportunity to revisit decisions made under legislation in 2020.

On 20 May 2021, Whakatāne District Council unanimously voted to introduce Māori wards for the 2022 and 2025 local body elections.

Find out more about the Whakatāne District Representation Review and Māori Wards.

Poll results

The final result in the binding poll on the introduction of Māori Wards in the Whakatāne District is as follows. Just over 44% of eligible voters participated in the poll.

The proposed introduction of a Māori ward or wards in the Whakatāne District for the 2019 and 2022 local government elections will therefore not proceed.

In a 2007 referendum on Māori wards in the Whakatāne District, 70% of participating voters voted against the introduction of Māori wards.

Background

In late 2017, the Council’s Policy Committee asked for feedback from Iwi, Hapū and individual community members on options for enhancing Māori involvement in Council decision-making processes. This could have involved the establishment of Māori Wards, or potentially other mechanisms for Tangata Whenua to provide advice and input.

Whakatāne District Council elected members voted in favour of a resolution that would enable the establishment of Māori wards. The elected members heard submissions from the public before deliberating and voting six to five in favour of supporting the introduction of one or more Māori wards.

On 14 February 2018, the Whakatāne District Council received a petition, signed by about 1800 people, demanding that a poll of electors be undertaken on the decision to introduce a Māori ward or wards at the 2019 local government election.

The petition demanding a poll of electors on the introduction of a Māori ward or wards in the Whakatāne District has been verified as meeting the requirement that it has been signed by at least five percent (1161) of registered electors. As a result, a public notice that a binding poll will be undertaken will be issued on 23 February and the electoral roll will then be open for inspection and enrolments through until 23 March. Voting papers will be sent to all registered electors on 27 April, with voting open until midday on 19 May.

If a majority of voters support Māori wards, that will trigger a representation review, which will see Council elected members decide on how the wards system should work, and then a period of community consultation before a final decision is made. Any objections to that decision would then be referred to the Local Government Commission for a ruling. If a majority of voters oppose Māori wards, the proposal will lapse.