Māori Ward
The Local Electoral Act 2001 provides for the establishment of Māori Ward(s).
In November 2017 the Council resolved to establish a Māori Ward in the Manawatū District for electoral purposes. The public notice detailed the public’s right to demand a poll to countermand this decision.
A valid demand was received from electors and a poll held in May 2018 to determine whether Council’s decision to establish a Māori Ward was final and would remain in force for the next two triennia (i.e. 2019-2022 and 2022-2025) or be overturned.
The majority of those electors who voted in the poll voted against the proposal to establish a Māori Ward. Under the current legislation the Council cannot consider establishing a Māori Ward in the Manawatū District until November 2023.
