Stratford District will have a Māori ward after a strong iwi turnout convinced councillors unanimously to support the move.
Ngāruahine and Ngāti Ruanui delegations were in the front row at Stratford District Council's Māori ward vote. Photo: LDR
Just three days ago the council had agreed for a third time to put off deciding whether to adopt a Māori ward until 2024, saying it had not heard the views of all seven iwi in its rohe.
The council called today's emergency meeting on the final possible day to establish a Māori ward for the 2022 election.
The three iwi with the strongest standing in Stratford, other iwi and hapū from around the maunga, the Taranaki Māori Trust Board and the town's Whakaahuarangi Marae all told councillors they were united in support of a Māori ward.
Ngāti Ruanui senior advisor Graham Young said the reasons given for the delay were flawed and disrespectful to mana whenua.
"The consultation you wanted is now in this room before you now and in front of you… To show that you have listened to us you must act now, introduce a Māori ward for Stratford District, lift this heavy cloud that is spreading over the council."
Ngāruahine deputy chair John Hooker said six years ago iwi enmeshed in Treaty negotiations were not ready to support Māori wards but now all were united.
"It is now time to embrace courage, it is now time to embrace maturity and undertake the right thing to do."
Seven councillors who had voted against a Māori ward in March changed their vote.
Decision up to Māori - councillor
Councillor Amanda Harris said she had wondered if there were better options for Māori representation.
"But I've realised this decision is not for me to make, this is for the Māori community to make. It's not for me to drive the car; it's for me to provide the vehicle."
Councillor Rick Coplestone remained concerned that the wider community had not been consulted and said many, especially in rural areas, needed to be educated.
"It'll be a long row to hoe to convince those people out there. We need to work together to do that."
After the 11-0 vote Ngāti Ruanui's tumu whakaae Haimona Maruera said work with the council would now begin on a new footing.
"For the council, they've got a lot of work to do with their Pākehā community because that's where the backlash will come from. For us as iwi now we can start planning and preparing ourselves."
Mayor Neil Volzke said the council had to confront the issue once the government outlawed the previous referenda which could overturn council decisions to establish Māori wards.
Stratford Mayor Neil Volzke Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
He said councillors had to make a choice despite some strong community opinions against Māori wards.
"The removal of the polls through the legislative change was a clear indication from government that this decision is one that should be made through council and Māori rather than through a political poll."
He said more and more people would come to understand and support the move over time.
The general manager of Te Kāhui Maru, Anaru Marshall, said the mayor had taken a political risk to champion the Māori ward to other councillors.
He said councillors who openly changed their minds at the table today had heard clearly the unity of iwi.
"For a lot of them their eyes were opened up because of the delegations that came here and the strength of the delegations, the strength of the speakers, and I think it dispelled some of the fears that they may have had and certainly answered a lot of the questions."
Marshall said the anger and hurt generated by the Tuesday vote against Māori wards would now dissipate.
"Stratford District Council is a much better council today than it was this morning."