Auckland Council meeting. File photo. Photo: RNZ / Felix Walton
Aucklanders are being asked for feedback on whether the council should have Māori seats on its governing body.
The city has the largest Māori population in the country at 11.5 percent, but no seats representing Māori voters.
Since 2010, the council has had Māori engagement facilitated by an Independent Māori Statutory Board (IMSB).
The board held voting positions on the majority of committees, although it lacked influence over the governing body itself.
Auckland councillor Kerrin Leoni said the decision was significant for all Aucklanders, not just Māori.
"Many councils around the country have already successfully established Māori wards. We now have an opportunity to create stronger partnerships that will benefit everyone living in our city."
A key point to establishing Māori seats was how representatives would be selected.
Auckland Council was asking for feedback on three options: the Parliamentary model, the Royal Commission model and a new different model to be created.
The Parliamentary model, which would create seats based on the size of the Māori electoral roll, would allow for one or two Māori councillors, according to a formula determined by the Local Electoral Act 2001.
The Royal Commission model would allow for two elected Māori councillors, but would have a third appointed mana whenua seat - it would require new legislation, and may not occur in time for the 2025 election.
The council would be hosting online, in-person and marae-based events for people to have their say.
More information on how to submit feedback can be found the Auckland Council website.
'The right time to do it' - Auckland Council
Auckland Council governance services manager Rose Leonard said the intention of including Māori seats has been considered since 2017.
"The governing body for a long time has had a position that was approving in principle to include Māori seats once the number of Auckland councillors could be changed, and this change is imminent.
"Up until now, we have been hindered by legislation which actually said there will be 20 councillors and the mayor, now we can do the same as everybody else and decide how many councillors we could have."
She said now that the cap on councillor numbers was lifted, it was time to restart the conversation.
"We also need to make this decision ahead of what is called a representation review, which we have to do before the next election, so these things have to happen in sequence and now it's the right time to do it.
"It's really important to point out that already 32 of the 78 councils around New Zealand already have Māori seats, for the first time Auckland will be able to make this decision in the way it wants to."
She said feedback was not the only factor considered when making a decision.
"It's not a poll, it's not a referendum, the governing body needs to take the feedback into consideration, and it will.
"There will be all sorts of views, so we have to weigh all of those up, look at what our outcomes are that we are trying to achieve in Auckland now and in the future and look at the best way of organising the representation of councillors."
Iwi react
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei said nothing would replace the direct, enduring relationship it had with the council, the city and its people.
"Our focus is on continuing to strengthen this relationship.
"Regardless of the representative model that's chosen, we want to see better outcomes for Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, as tangata whenua of central Tāmaki, and all Māori across the city, than we've seen to date," a spokesperson said.
'Downplaying the role of IMSB' - advocate
Not-for-profit society Democracy Action advocates for democracy and equality of citizenship in New Zealand.
Society chair and Aucklander Lee Short said council was not being fully transparent in its consultation with the public.
"The council's feedback form does not make it clear that the Māori seats would be created in addition to the Independent Māori Statutory Board.
"The government established this board instead of introducing Māori wards, surely making it an integral part of whether to introduce Māori ward seats or not."
Short said the council was downplaying the role of IMSB.
"The consultation document does not make it clear the Independent Māori Statutory Board already exercises significant influence over the council's policies and decision-making processes, which includes voting power that directly impacts decisions made by governing body committees.
"Typically, one or two seats are allocated to the board on all governing body committees, where most of the council's decisions are made."
He said adding Māori seats to these committees would further upset the rules around proportional representation.
"By not being fully transparent about the significant influence exercised by the IMSB, the council is failing in its duty to provide enough information to enable the public to be adequately informed to be able to properly engage in this consultation."
"Hopefully, the council will add reference to the Independent Māori Statutory Board, and its decision-making role on governing body committees, on its feedback survey form," Short said.
Leonard said council did not have the ability to disestablish the Independent Māori Statutory Board.
"The Independent Māori Statutory Board promotes important issues for Māori in Tāmaki Makaurau, and ensures the council meets its obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi."
She said the establishment of the IMSB did not exclude the possibility of direct Māori representation on the governing body being established in the future.
"A Māori ward councillor would represent Māori voters directly and make decisions on the governing body itself. The IMSB members can participate in decision-making but do not represent Māori voters directly."
IMSB has declined to comment.
ACT Party rejects idea
ACT leader David Seymour said the idea of seats reserved just for Māori must be stopped.
"ACT in government will repeal the relevant sections of the Local Electoral Act 2001 and will oppose the introduction of any new legislation that allows race-based representation."
Seymour said although the council was looking for public feedback, the process "wasn't really a consultation, as their publicity notes that consultation will not be the only factor considered when making a decision'."
He said to suggest that Auckland's current councillors were somehow not working to represent the interests of all their constituents was ludicrous and offensive.
"As a nation, we should be working toward unity, not away from it. Having councillors elected by the population at large means they work for everyone they represent, equally."