Tensions run high at select committee on Māori wards

Councillors have fronted up for the first time at a select committee over the Government's plan to re-instate binding referendums on Māori Wards, with some calling it "nasty", "mean-spirited" and "discriminatory".

The proposed changes under the Local Government Amendment Bill would force councils with recently-adopted Māori Wards to disestablish them or put them to a public vote - while any future Māori ward could once again be vetoed by the public.

"This Bill proposes referenda not for geographical wards, rural wards or wards representing any other ethnicity other than Māori," said Hutt City Councillor Andy Mitchell.

"This Bill is discriminatory against Māori and only Māori."

National's Cameron Brewer said all three coalition partners campaigned on the policy.

"Three parties put this in their coalition agreements, so I put it to you, that this Government makes this decision with the public of New Zealand behind us."

Wider Wellington Regional Councillor Hikitia Ropata said the Government should stay out of council business.

"This will be the very first time the New Zealand Government has forced this council to overturn a council resolution, a unanimous resolution, passed by 13 democratically elected representatives," she said.

Far North Māori Ward Councillor Hilda Halkyard-Harawira agreed.

"I've found it very personally stressful," she said.

"This U-turn on Māori wards is very mean-spirited and intended to put us 'uppity' Māori in our place... it's kinda nasty."

Brewer said many local and central governments were achieving diversity without designated Māori seats.

"The New Zealand Cabinet is 40% Māori, either on the party-list or on general wards. The mayor of Wellington is Māori," he said.

"The representation we get through local government and though central government is incredibly strong already."

Two thirds of the country's mayors have written to the Government to oppose the Bill.

Public hearings continue tomorrow.

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