Maori Ward added to election status quo

The lack of a clear mandate for change from South Wairarapa residents saw local councillors stick with the status quo for the coming 2025 local body elections. 

There was no support for the proposed two rural wards, no support for eliminating the council’s three community boards – and clearly no appetite for changing the year-old decision to add a Maori Ward to the district’s three 3-member council wards – plus the mayor.

This brings the council to a total of 11 elected members. Another 12 elected members make up the three community boards.

At last week’s council meeting, the report on the review noted: “Feedback from submissions on the initial proposal was broadly not in favour of retaining the initial (change) proposal” – of adding two rural wards and removing the three community boards.  

Following the near-unanimous votes for “no change,” Councillor Colin Olds proposed the council investigate a rural coastal advisory group. It passed without dissent. 

The fly in the representation ointment? Central government’s requirement that the Maori Ward be subject to a referendum at the election. This legal requirement will add at least $20,000 to the election bill despite the local council’s unanimous adoption of the plan for a Maori Ward seat at the council table. 

The local council thus joins 42 other district councils who have adopted Maori Wards – and have decided to retain them. Just two councils backed away from the option, while several pro-ward councils are seeking legal advice about a court challenge to the government over-ride.  

The council also adopted its Maori Standing Committee (MSC) recommendation that the name of the Maori Ward should be Te Karu o Te Ika a Māui – Eye of the Fish of Maui. 

It noted Māori identify South Wairarapa through landmarks and significant sites _ with Te Karu o Te Ika a Māui one of those, and part of the legendary story of Maui fishing up the North Island.

MSC chair Andrea Rutene described the decision as “the gift of a very beautiful name.” Councillor Pip Maynard thanked both Papawai Marae and MSC for “a name which belongs to this district and I really appreciate it (the Maori Ward) has been given a beautiful name.”

The renaming proposal was passed with one dissenting vote.   

The full representation review outcome is open for appeals and objections from 1 November  

to 1 December.