Local Electoral (Maori Wards and Maori Constituencies) Amendment Bill

This bill seeks to amend the Local Electoral Act 2001 (the Act) to improve Maori representation in local government. It aims to do this by removing provisions in the Act that allow for the use of binding polls in the decision to establish Maori wards or constituencies. It would also remove the use of binding polls in decisions about whether a local district or region should be divided into multiple Maori wards or constituencies. These provisions do not apply to general wards and constituencies, and have been used by electors to overturn some decisions made by local authorities. The bill also seeks to amend the part of the Act which gives local authorities the ability to require a referendum on a wide range of proposals, policies, services, objectives and issues. Consequently, any referendum on the establishment of Maori or general wards and constituencies could not be binding.
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/make-a-submission/document/53SCMA_SCF_BILL_105854/local-electoral-m%C4%81ori-wards-and-m%C4%81ori-constituencies

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