Marlborough District Council has voted unanimously in favour of retaining Māori wards.
At an extraordinary meeting held today, the unanimous vote supported keeping the ward which means the issue will now go to a binding public referendum at the 2025 local body elections.
The result from this would take effect from the 2028 local government term.
Council chambers was full for the meeting, with Mayor Nadine Taylor commenting it was the largest public gallery ever hosted at Council.
“It is excellent to see the level of interest and support,” she said.
Mayor Taylor said the issue being voted on was not about the Māori Ward representative Councillor, Allanah Burgess, but about the position.
“I want to be clear we are wrapping our support around you – you are part of our team and you hold your head high,” she told Councillor Burgess at the meeting.
All councillors took the opportunity to speak before voting.
In moving the motion to retain the Māori ward seat, Mayor Taylor said it contributed to a valuable partnership between Council and iwi and offered a direct voice in decision-making.
Marlborough is one of 45 Councils around the country that introduced Māori wards in late 2020 – current Māori ward Councillor, Allanah Burgess, was voted in at the 2022 October election.
