The proposed introduction of Māori wards at Tauranga City Council will go to a referendum after a petition calling for a community vote met a necessary threshold.
The proposed introduction of Māori wards at Tauranga City Council will go to a referendum after a petition calling for a community vote met a necessary threshold.
Tauranga City Council offices Photo: Google Maps
In August last year, councillors voted to introduce wards in the district where nearly 20 percent of the population is Māori.
If 5 percent of electors opposed this, a community wide vote was to be called.
Local electoral officer Warwick Lampp confirmed a petition calling for a vote reached the threshold of 4742 signatures.
This came ahead of a public meeting in Tauranga this afternoon organised by Hobson's Pledge, with spokesperson Don Brash set to speak on the topic of Māori wards.