Nigel Bowen: Timaru Mayor says the Government's Māori ward changes make sense

66% of New Zealand's mayors have signed a letter against the Government's Māori ward changes but one mayor says it's a good thing. 

A Parliament select committee's recommended the Māori Wards Bill go ahead. 

It will force councils which established Māori wards since 2021 to hold a referendum in next year's local election on whether they should stay. 

Timaru Mayor Nigel Bowen didn't sign onto the letter and told Mike Hosking that the Government's proposal makes sense. 

He says if councils want to make changes to local democracy by adding the wards, they should have to go to the people. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Somebody looking into the maray ward billers come back and
said get on with it. Basically, we go back to
what we had. It'll return binding community polls triggered by
a petition of five percent of eligible voters also require
compulsory polls on any mari wards created since the twenty
twenty one changes to run us alongside next year's council elections.
Now the timorary mayor Nigel bowenes with us. Nigel Mourning,
good morning. A lot of upset around this law and

(00:22):
the change of the law. A lot of mayors signed letters.
You weren't one of them? Why not?

Speaker 2 (00:26):
Yeah? My personal view Mike is that you know we
are possible. If we're wanting to make changes to democracy,
should actually sit with the people. So I actually find
it strange that you know Meyas were so keen to
sign the letter, because I think if you can have
changes sitting with the people, then that would make sense.
We get elected by the people, so why are we
afraid for the people to make the decision?

Speaker 1 (00:48):
Couldn't agree with or would your counsel agree with you?

Speaker 2 (00:52):
I would say we're probably an eighty twenty would agree
with me, but we haven't actually hit a discussion.

Speaker 1 (00:57):
Okay, So it's not democratic though, is it? Because I mean,
these things never canvassed on the election campaign and suddenly
a council turns up together and goes, by the way,
here's what we're going to do, and there's no comeback
for the punter on that.

Speaker 2 (01:09):
No, exactly, Look and it doesn't take It doesn't mean
that ELCTI members can't have a strong view and if
they want to support the public and having a referendum
and putting those points across and the reasons poor, they
can do that and they can lead the charge. So
you know, but that's just outside of the election. So
if you want to to your point, if you want
to campaign on it, do so that'd be transparent.

Speaker 1 (01:30):
But here's the ultimate campaigning policy, and that's a thing
called democracy. If you're a Maori and you want to stand,
you can and if you get enough votes, you are elected.
And that's always been the rule and that's the way
we should be running the country basically, isn't it.

Speaker 2 (01:44):
Yeah, No, one hundred percent agree with you.

Speaker 1 (01:45):
Good on you, Nigel, appreciate it. Nigel Barne, who's the
timaru me thirteen minutes past seven for.

Speaker 2 (01:51):
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