Māori ward issue deferred by Council

Both Crs John Watson and Wayne Walker voted to defer the introduction of Maori Wards, so that more work can be done on the issue. It was close, but Auckland Council voted to defer the issue of creating Māori Wards, after a long debate on Thursday, October 26. This means there will not be Māori Wards in the 2025 election. The options before Council were whether Māori seats should be introduced and, if so, whether via the parliamentary model, which would allow one or two Māori councillors to be voted in; or the Royal Commission model, which would have brought in two elected Māori councillors and...