Maori leader wants more representation and a great voice in local government

Image: Maori leader and Chair of the Independent Maori Statutory Body, David Taipari

A battle is looming for more Maori representation on some of New Zealand’s largest City Councils with one leader saying it’s what the people want. David Taipari, Chair of the Independent Maori Statutory Board says he will continue to push for such representation telling Maori Television that:

“I've heard it before and the Board is supportive of it because when we did the Maori plan the people told me that they wanted representation.”

The newly elected Mayor of Auckland, Phil Goff has flick passed responsibility to New Zealand Prime Minister, John Key, saying that (of dedicated Maori seats in Local Government):

“I can't implement them that's the statutory role of central government and the gentleman over there, Mr Key said he's not interested in that area. He's ruled it out categorically actually, I don't think we will get much change in opinion there.”

Taipari says, “I think they have difficulty because the law says there’s only 20 councillors. The potential is that two councillors would have to drop, if there were two Māori wards, two existing councillors would have to drop.”

Goff says, “I would of course prefer that we have elected representatives of Māoridom on council rather than appointed.”