Davidson MaramaLOCAL ELECTORAL (EQUITABLE PROCESS FOR ESTABLISHING MĀORI WARDS AND MĀORI CONSTITUENCIES) AMENDMENT BILLFirst ReadingMARAMA DAVIDSON (Green): I move That the Local Electoral (Equitable Process for Establishing Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Māori Affairs Committee to consider the bill. Tino harikoa mātou ka puta taku pire mema i te māpere pire mema kia matatika ai i te tūkanga mō te mahi whakatū i ngā rohe pōti Māori i runga i ngā kaunihera ā-rohe; kia whakamana hoki i ā tātou takohanga i raro i Te Tiriti o Waitangi. [We are really euphoric that my member's bill was drawn out of the member's bill ballot to ensure that the course of action to set up Māori electorates within regional councils is impartial; it will also ensure that our obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi are mandated.]This is a bill to improve Māori representation in local government. My bill is inspired by the work of former New Plymouth Mayor Andrew Judd who unsuccessfully tried to establish a Māori ward in his district and who has a petition before Parliament calling for this change. We are really proud to be working with Andrew on this and pleased that he endorsed the bill when I entered it into the ballot. I want to acknowledge Andrew Judd's incredible strength in the face of some pretty hostile and brutal opposition and acknowledge that as a Pākehā he has been willing to lead a conversation particularly for tauiwi and non-Māori to engage in.The current situation is that the establishment of Māori wards in local government can be put to a referendum whereas general wards cannot be. They can simply be decided on by councils. This creates an unfair double standard and works to limit Māori representation at local government level throughout the country.As to the bill itself currently if a territorial authority or regional council resolves to establish a Māori ward or constituency a poll on the issue must be held if 5 percent of the electors of the city district or region request it. That is all it takes. The result of such a poll is binding on the authority or council for at least two elections. There is no equivalent requirement applicable to the establishment of general wards or constituencies. Ensuring that the establishment of Māori wards follows the same legal process as the establishment of general wards is the very least we can do to ensure better Māori representation in local government so that our people have a voice in the decisions that affect us.The United Nations has noted that Aotearoa has persistently low representation" of Māori in local government positions which is made worse by this double standard for Māori wards which limits Māori representation in local government by allowing it only if the majority agrees. There are many councils across the country with no Māori representation at all. Those councils that have tried to address the issue by establishing Māori wards have not been able to because of the ability for people to demand a referendum. Only one council Wairoa District Council which is one of the most densely Māori-populated districts in the country has been able to establish a Māori ward and even for them it took two goes because the first time it was blocked by a referendum.The Green Party is proud to continue our strong support for Te Tiriti rights in advocating for a Government that plays its part in supporting Māori aspirations for tino rangatiratanga. While we acknowledge that the vision for tino rangatiratanga can be driven only by Māori the Green Party understands that government and certainly local government can stop getting in the way of that and can proactively support this tupuna-endowed kaupapa. Affirming better Māori representation at the local government decision-making table will benefit our communities.One example of where Māori representation could benefit everyone is in the area of waste-water sewerage. Currently around the country Māori groups often alongside local tauiwi groups are fighting to uphold their responsibilities as kaitiaki over our living systems. Hapū are concerned with the long-term well-being of rivers lakes and harbours. Accountability to whānau requires hapū to protect that resource as a taonga—a source of food and spiritual nourishment. Yet hapū are battling short-term planning that often favours cost cutting and big business. There is too often a refusal to acknowledge the expertise held by local Māori over hundreds of years of care for our living system. There have been waste-water decisions made over 30 years ago now that have done nothing but explode wider costs by ruining waters and ecosystems eventually ending up in expensive mitigation that we are seeing today. Having proper hapū representation at the decision table 30 years ago would have likely saved the living system and public finances. This would have been of benefit to everyone.Kaupapa Māori cultural values and world views offer this country a rich source for planning and kaitiaki responsibilities and knowledge. My bill seeks to improve the particular avenue of representation on local government as a way to better ensure our people have a say in the decisions that affect them. Andrew made an inspiring and courageous stand that has changed attitudes around the country and brought attention to our chronically low Māori representation in local government. Andrew has exemplified true leadership which is about always doing the right thing especially when it is not easy. We have Māori electorates in Parliament and this does not change the principle of one person one vote. A fair and equitable democracy is one where the human rights of the minority should not just be decided on by the majority. A fair and equitable democracy would recognise the human rights breaches that the majority has had on tangata whenua and at the least would support a fair and equitable process as part of rectifying that breach.He pire tēnei ki te whakakahore i tērā ārai ki te whakatū rohe pōti Māori. E tika ana kia whakarahi ake ngā kanohi Māori hei māngai mā tātou i runga i ngā kaunihera.[This is a bill that negates that pathway to establish Māori electorates. It is appropriate that the number of Māori faces as representatives for us on councils is increased.]This should not be a controversial issue. I am proud to commend this bill to the House. Thank you."