Joris de Bres

Race Relations Commissioner

NZ Diversity Forum August 2010

Why consider the issue now? Royal Commission on Auckland Governance

recommended Māori seats

Government rejected the proposal

2010 Race Relations Report identified Māori representation as a priority in election year

Māori remain seriously underrepresented in local government

HRC Environment Bay of Plenty case study

Environment Bay of Plenty Council conducted hearings and obtained special

legislation in 2001

Option extended to all councils in 2002 by Local Electoral Amendment Act

Council has had three Maori constituencies since 2004

No other council has uplifted the option

EBOP: HRC Case Study 2010 Councillors, managers and staff generally enthusiastic

about the system

BOP iwi positive about the improved participation in decision making

Māori Committee a standing committee of Council and engages with hapū and iwi

Māori Policy Unit supports Maori Committee and hapū and iwi

EBOP: DIA case study 2009 “The establishment of Māori constituency seats is a

key mechanism utilised to facilitate Māori input and participation into council.”

“While council and Māori acknowledge its practical effect in giving Māori a voice at the decision making table, they also recognise that the Māori seats are a symbol of the validation and respect of Māori as tangata whenua.”

Royal Commission on Auckland Recommendations two Māori seats elected by voters on the Māori

Electoral Roll

a Mana Whenua Forum, appointed by mana whenua of the Auckland region

A mana whenua seat appointed by members of the Mana Whenua Forum

Select Committee Report Noted that large number of submitters supported

Māori seats

Urged the Auckland Council to carefully consider establishing Māori representation should there be community support for this

Noted that mechanism for this provided by Local Electoral Act 2001

Identified need to consider adequacy of national legislation on Māori representation separately

Statutory Māori Advisory Board General functions:

(a) act in accordance with its purpose and functions and ensure it does not contravene the purpose for which it was established

Specific function:

To appoint a maximum of 2 persons to sit on subcommittees dealing with natural and physical resources

Te Ururoa Flavell: Private Member’s Bill 2010 Proposed change to Local Electoral Act to base Māori

seats on population not enrolment

Present system if fully implemented would produce 117 Māori seats (12.7%)

Proposed system would produce 199 Māori seats (21.5%).

Current Māori representation is 4.8%

Survey of local government The Human Rights Commission has surveyed all

territorial authorities and regional councils to establish whether they have considered introducing Māori seats

Results of that survey will be presented today by Dr Judith Pryor.

Recommendations Iwi should discuss whether or not they want Māori seats on

their local or regional council

New Auckland Council should proceed to establish Māori seats without further ado, subject to re-endorsement by Auckland iwi

Discussions should take place between councils and iwi on Māori seats and Māori representation prior to next representation review (in 2011)

Councils should support the Māori choice

There should be further national discussion on improved provision for Māori representation