My Account
Aucklanders will be asked for their views later this year on the question of whether or not to introduce Māori seats on Auckland Council.
The Government is currently working through the Local Government Electoral Legislation Bill, which passed its second reading last month. The bill would see the removal of a set number of councillors on council and make it easier to establish Māori wards.
Two models are being explored – the Parliamentary model and the Royal Commission’ model. The Parliamentary model calculates the total number of Māori seats based on the number of voters on the Māori electoral roll versus the number of ward councillors. For Auckland this would mean one or two Māori seats.
Council’s governance services manager Rose Leonard said the consultation document would need to explain council’s governance model, which includes the Independent Māori Statutory Board (IMSB).
Cr Mike Lee said under the old Auckland Regional Council, mana whenua had indicated a strong preference for the IMSB over a ‘one person, one vote’ approach.
Consultation is expected to happen no later than August 1 this year.
