Decision time nigh for Hamilton City Council on whether to introduce Māori wards

Tuesday, 30 March 2021

Four of the five mÄngai MÄori appointees on the Hamilton City Council: James Whetu, Olly Te Ua, Te Pora Thompson and Norm Hill. Not pictured is Hemi Rau.

Māori wards could finally become a permanent feature of the Hamilton City Council, with the city’s politicians poised to make a ruling on whether to introduce them.

The decision, at an extraordinary council meeting on Thursday, will be one of the most important of the year and the councillors will have much food for thought.

One morsel on the platter of considerations will be whether the council’s māngai Māori appointees are representing Māori interests on the council much more effectively than someone who is elected ever could.

The Government recently amended legislation to allow councils to create Māori wards, without the threat of “citizen-initiated” petitions to overturn such moves – a threat that forced initiatives to introduce the wards in Hamilton in 2017 to be abandoned.

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Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate said the vote to consider the establishment of Maori wards in Hamilton created a positive way forward for the community (file photo).

While the removal of the potential for a “community veto” is seen as a way of encouraging all councils around the country to introduce formal Māori representation, some are in greater need than others – and where Hamilton sits on that sliding scale is a matter for debate.

The quintet of māngai Māori appointees were chosen by Waikato-Tainui and the urban Māori authority Te Rūnanga ō Kirikiriroa on for their skills and experience. They have full voting rights at the committee level, but don’t sit on the full council.

There are four options before the council, the first being to simply maintain the status quo by retaining the māngai Māori positions.

The second option would be to commit to a review of Māori representation arrangements – including consideration of Māori wards – following the adoption of the He Pou Manawa Ora strategy.

Option three would be to give the green light to establishing Māori wards for the 2022-25 triennium, and also retain the māngai appointees.

Option four is the same as option three, but would involve the disestablishment of the māngai positions. Both options three and four could, if the council deems it necessary, involve a public consultation phase.

Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate said she could not speak about any preferences she might have regarding the wards, as she first needed to listen to the debate in full before venturing her views.

“I’m keeping an open mind. I’m looking forward to a considered, respectful discussion on Thursday, although I know there will be a range of views … I honestly can’t pick the way the council is leaning on this one.

“One of the challenges will be to our ability to consider the nuances … It’s important that we make a quality decision.”

The speed with which the legislation was passed had been unexpected, she said.

“It is right to remove the barriers to Māori democracy. It provides another tool to councils, but it is not the only tool. Hamilton has led the way with the māngai Māori model, and we now have five highly skilled people, who have proved really valuable.”

Māngai Olly Te Ua, who represents the interests of the rūnanga on the council said his view reflected that of the authority, which was keen on both wards and retaining the māngai.

“I don’t want to sound conceited, but the māngai Māori model has been really successful … He Pou Manawa Ora remains a good next step for council. It’s all part of the journey.”

Māngai Te Pora Thompson said the iwi had made their position clear.

“There’s good grounds for a hybrid model [of both māngai and wards] to get full value. Māngai bring expertise … but we don’t get a say on council. That’s the only downfall of the māngai.”

“The council has made some great progress recently. The momentum is there … I hope we can keep going, because there is so much more to be done.”

He Pou Manawa Ora – Pillars of Wellbeing is currently being revised and fine-tuned by the council. The document lays out a strategy for the council to engage and strengthen its relationship with Māori, including allowing Māori to have better input into council decision-making.

Waikato-Tainui chief executive Donna Flavell declined to reveal her view on the wards until after she addresses the council on Thursday.