- Friday 30 July 2010
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Thumbs down for Maori wards
By REBECCA DEVINE in Rotorua
Race-based wards have been given the thumbs down by Rotorua residents.
A recent survey of more than 400 residents shows only 30 per cent are in favour of Maori wards.
An overwhelming 68 per cent have said they don't believe the separate wards are needed and after several hui, Maori in Rotorua have indicated they aren't in favour of the special wards either.
Residents were questioned on the issue as part of the annual National Research Bureau (NRB) survey commissioned by the Rotorua District Council. The results follow months of consultation with local Maori about whether the wards should be introduced.
The views of Maori who attended consultation hui will be taken on Monday to the Te Arawa Standing Committee which will then make a recommendation to the full council on the issue. A final decision needs to be made by the council by November 23.
The issue of Maori wards has been a long and drawn out one for the council. Councillors decided they weren't in favour of the wards before bowing to pressure from local iwi to consult. Following several hui, iwi have also decided they don't want Maori wards.
In a report which will go to Monday's meeting, Maori state they are happy with the work the Te Arawa Standing Committee is doing.
If Maori wards are introduced it is likely the standing committee will go.
While the NRB Survey found residents were against Maori wards, it found they were open to the possibility of establishing community boards.
These exist in neighbouring districts and would add another layer of bureaucracy to the system.
Several hundred electors have also signed a petition asking the council to consider setting up a lakes community board. A report will go to the finance and strategic planning committee in two weeks' time for consideration.
Community boards were designed to represent communities in council matters and comprise elected members and a small number of councillors.
Meanwhile, Rotorua residents surveyed were overwhelmingly supportive of the first past the post voting system, with 62 per cent favouring it over the single transferable vote alternative.
Council chief executive Peter Guerin said the results of the survey would be taken into consideration.
Race-based wards have been given the thumbs down by Rotorua residents.
A recent survey of more than 400 residents shows only 30 per cent are in favour of Maori wards.
An overwhelming 68 per cent have said they don't believe the separate wards are needed and after several hui, Maori in Rotorua have indicated they aren't in favour of the special wards either.
Residents were questioned on the issue as part of the annual National Research Bureau (NRB) survey commissioned by the Rotorua District Council. The results follow months of consultation with local Maori about whether the wards should be introduced.
The views of Maori who attended consultation hui will be taken on Monday to the Te Arawa Standing Committee which will then make a recommendation to the full council on the issue. A final decision needs to be made by the council by November 23.
The issue of Maori wards has been a long and drawn out one for the council. Councillors decided they weren't in favour of the wards before bowing to pressure from local iwi to consult. Following several hui, iwi have also decided they don't want Maori wards.
In a report which will go to Monday's meeting, Maori state they are happy with the work the Te Arawa Standing Committee is doing.
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While the NRB Survey found residents were against Maori wards, it found they were open to the possibility of establishing community boards.
These exist in neighbouring districts and would add another layer of bureaucracy to the system.
Several hundred electors have also signed a petition asking the council to consider setting up a lakes community board. A report will go to the finance and strategic planning committee in two weeks' time for consideration.
Community boards were designed to represent communities in council matters and comprise elected members and a small number of councillors.
Meanwhile, Rotorua residents surveyed were overwhelmingly supportive of the first past the post voting system, with 62 per cent favouring it over the single transferable vote alternative.
Council chief executive Peter Guerin said the results of the survey would be taken into consideration.
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