Te Ao Maori / Politics

New Plymouth council votes to install Māori ward

07:53 am on 22 July 2020

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New Plymouth councillors have voted to establish a Māori ward, and in so doing side-stepped community consultation on the issue, for the time being.

It comes six years after another attempt to form a Māori ward was overturned by a community instigated referendum.

Former Mayor Andrew Judd, who didn't seek re-election in 2016 because of the hatred he endured for supporting a Māori ward, says he fears another community led referendum will take place.

Dinnie Moeahu is a New Plymouth councillor. 

He speaks to Susie Ferguson.