Systemic racism is at the heart of New Zealand’s current council Māori wards debate, according to a leading campaigner for their establishment who spoke in Whangārei on Friday evening. Kaipara and Whangārei District Councils, along with Northland Regional Council (NRC), have all in about the last month for the first time voted for Māori wards (district councils) or constituencies (regional council). Nick Connop, Whangārei District Council (WDC) councillor, voted for Māori wards in his council’s recent majority vote in their favour. Mike Kake, a member of Northland Regional Council (NRC)’s Tai Tokerau Māori Advisory Committee, attended this evening’s meeting to hear more about Māori wards. He said any referendum or polling on Māori wards should be for those on the Māori electoral roll to decide, not the general electoral population.

Source: Stuff November 28, 2020 02:48 UTC