Five months after its original decision to introduce Māori wards, the Taupō District Council has confirmed the resolution.

While the 10 to two ‘yes’ vote at Tuesday’s full council meeting was more definite than the 7-3 split on November 23 last year, one dissenting councillor raised the spectre of tokenism.

The process leading up to the confirmation has not been without controversy and includes the government removing the requirement for a council to hold a binding poll on Māori wards if petitioned by five per cent of electors, and one councillor, John Boddy, upsetting some residents by gathering petition signatures on Waitangi Day.

That local petition, supported by Hobson’s Choice, gathered the 1241 signatures required, but the TDC replaced the rescinded poll with other engagement in March and early April.

This had garnered 101 responses, noted senior policy advisor Sue Mavor.

Councillors were quick to point out that this feedback, and earlier opinions from iwi and Maori organisations had been carefully considered.

Kevin Taylor, absent from the November meeting, acknowledged submissions both for and against.

He had read them all, he said, along with a legal opinion on council decision-making “and for the record I am in favour of the resolution.”

He was closely followed by John Williamson, who said views that Maori wards were separatism or undemocratic came from misunderstanding or misinformation.

Kathy Guy said she expected Maori to not just be included but “be at the forefront of every decision,” while Anna Park welcomed the “surety of diversity”.

Christine Rankin, also absent when the original decision was made, reiterated her opposition to wards, likening them to quotas or tokenism.

“Having been a woman who developed her career during a time when women were given power because they were given it and to be ever-considered as a token woman at the time was something that horrified me and made most of the women who were carving a career at the time act in a totally different way... this is the wrong thing for a group of people I have huge respect and admiration for.”

Kirsty Trueman and Tangonui Kingi hinted at the lack of unanimity; Trueman stating “key people at this table see the key benefits, see the value and want it to happen.”

Kingi said it was a responsibility of elected members to help communities understand “because sometimes some of their positions are borne out of fear, out of assumptions... so a part of us having the courage to move in this direction and to set a course and to encourage our community to be part of it actually just makes sense.”

Boddy, maintaining his ‘no’ vote, and said 80 per cent of the submissions were against wards and that the council had fallen down on other commitments to Maori consultation.

“After the last election we went out to a marae and gave an undertaking then that we would visit every marae in the district... That’s dropped through, and I am very surprised and concerned.”

In response, Dylan Tahau, iwi and co-governance manager, said marae visits, though paused, remained a priority for council.

“Our issue is we have an austerity budget which prevents us being able to go out and participate fully. While you don’t have a catering budget, we are not going to be able to go to the marae to fulfil manaakitanga obligations…”

Mayor David Trewavas wrapped up the discussion before the vote, again calling it a “landmark day.”

In a council release, emailed out before the rest of the meeting was concluded, Trewavas also stated: “I am immensely proud of being part of a council that has made this decision today for the good of our community and showing leadership where it matters.”

Tuwharetoa Maori Trust Board has declined to comment on the decision.

What next: Under the Local Electoral Act a representation review, costing approximately $10,000, must be undertaken with an initial proposal determined by August 31. The review must include: the total number of members of the council, the mix of Maori and general wards, ward names and boundaries and the constitution of new community boards, alterations to existing boards, or disestablishment of existing boards.

Credit:Stuff.co.nz