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Earlier this month, the council voted eight to four against a move to establish Māori wards in time for the 2022 elections. Days later, however, in a rare move, Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate and five councillors put forward a motion to redebate the issue. Southgate said the decision delaying the creation of Māori wards for at least three years had caused pain and division in the community. One of the council’s five Maangai Māori, Hemi Rau, resigned from his position following the initial vote.
Christel Yardley/Stuff
A packed public gallery inside Hamilton City Council s debating chamber stand for a karakia. The council meeting was to debate the issue of Maori wards.
Hamilton City Council to revisit Māori wards decision
7 Apr, 2021 02:48 AM
2 minutes to read
Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate: I understand people s frustration and hurt . but my concern has always been to take people with you. Photo / Andrew McRae, RNZ
Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate: I understand people s frustration and hurt . but my concern has always been to take people with you. Photo / Andrew McRae, RNZ
RNZ
The Hamilton City Council is to revisit its decision not to establish Māori wards for next year s local body election.
Last week it voted against the proposal 8-4, instead deciding to strengthen Māori participation on council committees.
Hamilton Mayor, Paula Southgate
Photo: RNZ / Andrew McRae
Last week it voted against the proposal 8-4, instead deciding to strengthen Māori participation on council committees.
A majority of councillors have now formally sought to revoke the decision and it will go back to the council next week to consider a new motion of introducing Māori wards but only after consultation with the community.
A final decision will be made on 19 May.
Mayor Paula Southgate said she was acutely aware of how deeply hurt some people had been by last week s decision. I understand people s frustration and hurt and I have felt that myself very keenly, but my concern has always been to take people with you.
At the time, Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate said establishing Maaori wards without first consulting the wider public would not achieve the right outcome. However, Southgate said in a statement on Tuesday that over Easter weekend she had become acutely aware of “how deeply hurt some people had been by the decision” and she was dismayed to see rifts forming in the community. “I understand people’s frustration and hurt and I have felt that myself very keenly. But my concern has always been to take people with us,” she said. After a meeting between Southgate and Waikato-Tainui representatives on Tuesday the council was advised a majority of councillors had formally sought to revoke last week’s decision.