Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Local Authorities Urged ‘Not To Wait’ For Education On Māori Wards

Following the passage of the Local Electoral (Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act on March 1st, a growing number of local authorities are opting to establish Māori wards for the 2022 local authority elections. Late last week the Manawatu District Council however voted to defer the decision to establish Māori wards, in part due to a desire to educate the public first to ensure support. Dr. Veronica Tawhai, citizenship education expert and senior lecturer in Māori development at Massey University, however, has advised local authorities “not to wait”.

“Certainly citizenship education on these matters is desperately needed. However the significant progress made in Māori-Crown relations to date has never been based on public education or readiness” states Dr. Tawhai. “We would not have the Waitangi Tribunal, Treaty of Waitangi settlements, joint management agreements or a range of other positive initiatives if we had waited for the wider public to be educated on these matters first. Yet, these have proved essential to the positive development of our country locally and nationally”.

Over recent decades reports such as the 2005 Constitutional Arrangements Select Committee and the 2013 Constitutional Advisory Panel have called for greater civics and citizenship education, including on Māori representation. Under the 1993 Electoral Act the Electoral Commission has responsibilities in this area. However, concerns New Zealanders are still not well-informed means some local authorities are hesitant to use their authority to decide on Māori wards themselves, despite support from mana whenua. Tawhai argues that, if education is the concern, an opportunity to educate the wider public is in the representation review process that each local authority must conduct following the establishment of Māori wards to decide its ward boundaries and number of councillors, which it must consult its communities on.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“Positive developments to date have occurred from the efforts of those committed to advancing the issues, and considered decision-makers who were ready to listen and responded accordingly. These leaders were aware of the poor state of public education on these matters, but would not let that prevent them from making positive changes. If it is the wishes of mana whenua, I urge local authorities to do the same” states Dr. Tawhai. “Education about Māori wards can be rolled out come representation review time. In the meantime, this important opportunity to better honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi shouldn’t be missed”.

Local authorities have until May 21st to decide whether they will establish Māori wards or constituencies for the 2022 local government elections.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On National’s Fantasy Trip To La La Landlord Land


How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is:
(A) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was touting to voters last year has now blown out to $2.9 billion. (That’s a 38% size error in the calculations.)
(B) unable to provide assurance that this handout won’t simply be pocketed by landlords
(C) unable to explain why Treasury (in research as recent as August 2023) wasn’t citing the loss of interest deductibility as a prime factor driving up rents.
More than anything, the Great Landlords Handout undermines the government’s alarmist talk about the state of the country’s books...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.