Maori demand seats on super council 

Source: NZPAPM John Key and Maori Party co leader Pita Sharples are met with a traditional Maori welcome, at the Te Kokiri Ngatahi Treaty Settlements Hui

The government's plan to exclude Maori seats from the Auckland super city is being met by harsh criticism from Maori who say it fails to meet Treaty of Waitangi obligations.

Cabinet has signed off a plan to bring the concept of one city and one mayor into law. But it doesn't include the Maori seats recommended by the Royal Commission.
           
Maori say it's a huge step in the wrong direction.

"From the Maori community we believe this is a step backwards and we will gain no capital out of it. We need to mover forward in terms of this partnership and I think of the Treaty of Waitangi as being the basis for that partnership," says Hone Sadler of Auckland University.

Sadler says the fight for the seats is likely to gain widespread support amongst Maori, starting with a protest hikoi later this month.

Maori Party fights for seats

The Maori Party has not given up its fight for Maori seats on the super council, despite legislation excluding them as an option.

On Monday, Local Government Minister Rodney Hide said legislation would be introduced next week to set up the super council and said in line with previously announced decisions it would not include Maori seats.

Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples said the announcement did not change the outlook for Maori seats.

"There is a process in place and currently being actioned, high level discussions with mana whenua leadership are being organised at present," Dr Sharples said.

"I am still strongly committed to the kaupapa of mana whenua seats at the top table and I remain hopeful of a positive outcome."

Hide said the first two bills setting up a super council in Auckland will be introduced to parliament next week.

The first bill to be passed under urgency will establish the Auckland Council as a legal entity and the Auckland Governance Transition Agency.

The bill will also give the agency the power to constrain the decision-making powers of existing Auckland councils and their subsidiaries.

The agency will be responsible for rationalisation and the transition to the new governance arrangements.

The second bill will be sent to parliament's local government select committee for public submissions for reporting back in September.

This will:

- propose the structure of the Auckland Council - eight members elected at large and 12 members from wards, and 20 to 30 local boards including their high level functions;

- empower the Local Government Commission to determine the boundaries of the wards and the local boards, as well as the boards' membership; and

- provide for the integration of Auckland's water infrastructure.

A third bill would be introduced later this detailing the structure, functions, roles and powers of the council and local boards.

Labour has called for a referendum on the structure of the council, but Hide said the parliamentary process was more appropriate.

Key defends urgency

Prime Minister John Key defended the use of urgency to pass the first bill, saying the Government was showing leadership and it was necessary to get the process moving.

The membership of the establishment board, which was likely to have five members, would probably be announced next week.

Key said the details of contentious issues would be dealt with in the second and third bills.
Cabinet had puts its best foot forward on the Maori seats issue in ruling them out, but would still listen to arguments about it.

Key said he believed Maori issues would be best dealt with by an advisory board to the council.