Tauranga Maori are checking the numbers to decide whether a poll is necessary in relation to a Maori ward seat on Tauranga City Council.

City councillors voted unanimously against the measure in November last year.

A decision on the poll is required by this Friday.

However, the council decision can be challenged if five percent of the roll demand a poll.

The petition must be finalised and submitted by February 28, Tauranga Moana Tangata Whenua Collective chairperson Puhirake Ihaka told the Tanga Whenua/Tauranga City Council Committee.

'We will see what happens by this Friday,” says Puhirake.

Based on the number of electors on the 2013 roll, five per cent adds up to 4,237 voters.

If the decision is made to campaign for a poll the council has to be notified within 90 days of the notification and a poll would have to take place no later than May 21, 2015.

The outcome of any poll would be binding for the next 2 triennial elections, and cost about $170,000.

Adding a Maori ward to the city council will result in other changes. The city council will be unable to keep the existing structure of four at large and six ward representatives if ten councillors are to be retained.

The number and composition of the next council is to be considered in the representation review required to be completed by August 2015.

If the collective doesn't get the numbers to force a poll, then the issue will be re-examined in six years.

There are three Maori ward seats on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

Regional Councillor Doug Owens came out firmly in their favour when the City of New Plymouth was wrestling publicly with the same issue in December last year.

In an open letter to the New Plymouth Mayor, Doug says Maori ward seats have become an issue of political prejudice, as parties vie for the ‘prejudice vote against Maori' and their declared and accepted right to self-determination as a culture and an indigenous people.

'The essential advantage of direct representation via a ward system is the pragmatic solution to a profound political problem,” says Doug.

'That being an indifferent electorate having no interest in Maori and no guaranteed election of Maori and therefore continued poor communication and misunderstanding.

'Under wards, local Maori can select the people they want to represent them and in a competitive environment, vote for them. It is then up to these representatives to communicate with their Iwi and Hapu and bring their issues to the top table for resolution.”

The three Maori wards on the regional council have given way to greater tolerance and understanding of issues and these relationships have grown and deepened as a result of Maori representation, says Doug,

'The political prejudice that still exists in the BOP is no longer evident in the Regional Council,' he adds.

'Ratepayers can also take comfort that having three wards representing all Maori in the Waiariki Region is cost effective, as opposed to statutory boards, which are not.”

He recommends the Local Maori Ward system as the most viable political option for local New Zealand, as local government moves into the new statutory environment of Co-Governance.

The numbers presented to Tauranga City Councillors before the vote in November show Maori are projected to account for over one-quarter of the growth of the Bay of Plenty Region from 2011 to 2021.