Whanganui regional leaders react to government's Māori ward announcement 2 Feb, 2021 04:00 PM 5 minutes to read Leaders across the region have mixed reactions to the government's announcement to remove the ability to petition against a Māori ward. The announcement, made by Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta on Monday, means local authorities will now have the ability to implement a Māori ward without the risk of the decision being reversed by a referendum. Currently, if a local authority moves to establish a Māori ward, a binding referendum on the issue must be held if 5 per cent of the population demand it by way of a petition.