Exclusive: 50 mayors, chairs critical of Govt's Māori ward changes

Fifty mayors and regional council chairpersons have penned a letter to the Government, criticising their bill that would require councils to hold referendums on Māori wards established without a local poll.

The letter, obtained exclusively by 1News Political Editor Maiki Sherman, argues the legislation is "an overreach on local decision-making" and "a distraction from the hard work" councils are doing.

Additionally, the mayors and regional council chairpersons say they are "disappointed" by the bill and suggest it "undermines the important contributions that Māori are making".

The signatories represent two-thirds of local council leaders as the Government's bill to re-introduce the right to local referendums on Māori wards will be debated in Parliament.

Palmerston North Mayor Grant Smith said the coalition's move was a distraction when there are "bigger things to worry about with local government".

"There's water. There's infrastructure. There's funding issues. This is such a distraction."

He said: "It's such an overreach and I do think that there's no local in this."

Smith added: "My plea to the Prime Minister is, it might be a coalition agreement, but it is not worth the fight. Māori will not give up on this and local communities won't either."

The previous Labour government passed legislation allowing councils to make the final decision on whether to establish Māori wards for their city or district.

The law change stripped a provision that previously allowed local communities to veto Māori wards by holding a referendum. Before that provision was removed, 24 councils attempted to establish Māori wards, but only three were successful.

Restoring the right to local referendums on the establishment of Māori wards was a commitment under both the ACT and NZ First coalition agreements with National.

Last month, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown said councils that established wards without referendums would be required to hold binding polls in 2025. The bill to re-introduce the right to referendums will have its first reading in Parliament tomorrow.

The mayors' letter argues that referendums aren't called for in other local representation decisions, like establishing rural wards, and that councils already seek community views.

Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan told 1News that while some mayors hadn't signed on, due to tight turnaround, the letter represents a "very strong statement" against the bill.

"I just don't understand why this is a separate issue — when things such as a rural ward or other decisions that we might make, don't go to a poll in a referendum," he said.

"Until I've had it explained to me why Māori wards are separated out, and other similar, locally-made decisions aren't challengeable in this way — I'll remain opposed."

However, the Government has stood firm in response to the letter.

When asked about the signatories, Simeon Brown said it was a "fundamental decision around how the councils should be set up".

"The Government's restoring democracy," he said.

"This is a fundamental decision around how the councils should be set up — how those wards should be allocated. And we think voters should actually be able to determine whether or not there should be Māori wards. Not just the council."

Deputy Prime Minister and NZ First leader Winston Peters defended the legislation.

"We campaigned on it — that this democracy should be equal."

ACT leader David Seymour said Kiwis already made a choice when they voted last year.

"The people of New Zealand have voted. Far more people — than voted for any mayor — have voted for a government that is now changing those laws."

The letter was sent to the Prime Minister, Māori Development Minister, and coalition party leaders — on the letterhead of peak body Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ).

Of the 52 signatories — 44 are mayors, eight are chairpersons of regional councils, and two councillors are the chairpersons of LGNZ's sub-committee of Māori elected members.

There are 78 territorial, regional, and unitary councils in New Zealand.

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