The introduction of Māori wards in the Western Bay of Plenty has prompted a community board member to resign, triggering a by-election.

Waihī Beach Community Board deputy chairperson Alan Kurtovich told Local Democracy Reporting when he campaigned during last year’s election, he said he was against Māori wards.  The council choosing not to consult with the community about the wards was “the last straw”, for the first-time community board member.

“I felt that the council let our community down quite badly.”

On Wednesday Western Bay of Plenty District Council announced Kurtovich’s resignation, initiating a by-election to select a new community board member.

This is the second by-election announced for the district in the past fortnight. The council notified Te Puke Community Board member Anish Paudel’s resignation for “personal reasons” on August 11.

The Waihī Beach Community Board by-election was estimated to cost $14,500 and the Te Puke one would likely cost $22,950, the council says.

At an extraordinary meeting last Thursday, the councillors voted nine – three in favour of establishing Māori wards for the 2025 and 2028 elections. 

The issue of Māori Wards is not a new one, and mana whenua have long campaigned for them.

In 2011 after a narrow vote the council decided not to establish them, in 2017 the council opted to have Māori Wards, but it was subject to a binding poll requested by the public.

Applause then a waiata rang out from the public gallery after the Western Bay Of Plenty District Council voted to have Māori wards. Photo: Alisha Evans/SunLive.

It was voted down in the poll with 78 per cent of the respondents opposed, just over 40 per cent of eligible voters took part.

A legislation change since meant last week’s decision cannot be overturned by a binding poll.

Kurtovich says the council would have followed the required steps in establishing the wards but based on the poll he felt the community’s views should be sought again.

To me, not to be given that opportunity to find out how the community feels about that again is not correct.

“It might seem drastic, but at the end of the day I was elected to represent the community and they have chosen not to let the community have their say.”

He says he didn’t know about last Thursday’s council meeting until that day.

“If you're going to make such an important decision for our community, then the community needs to be engaged and told what's going on.”

Mayor James Denyer said Māori wards were "not exactly new ground". Photo: John Borren/SunLive. 

Mayor James Denyer told LDR because the council had consulted previously, the community’s views were “well understood”.

“It [consultation] wasn't really going to gain any insight. I acknowledge there's strong opinions on each side.”

Denyer says during the debate at Thursday’s meeting he acknowledged it was a “difficult decision” for councillors but also about doing “the right thing”.

“It's one of those issues you can't possibly please everyone.

“There's been a pretty strong request for Māori wards for the last 10-12 years and now we're the 36th council to do it. So, it's not exactly new ground.”

Under the Local Electoral Act 2001 there were no obligations to consult with any person before passing a resolution to establish Māori wards.

Denyer says he was present at the Katikati - Waihī Beach Community Forum and the Waihī Beach Community Board meeting held in the days prior to last Thursday’s council meeting. He says the topic of Māori wards came up and he was available for questions, but Kurtovich wasn’t at those meetings.

The process for Māori Wards, as part of the districts’ six-yearly representation review, was signalled in December to councillors, there was an update in May and a closed workshop in August, he says.

Denyer says there were two councillors appointed to the community board and those councillors kept community board members updated.

The agenda for the extraordinary meeting went up 10 days prior and it was also advertised in the newspaper.

Waihī Beach By-election key dates:

• Nominations open/roll open: Friday August 25
• Nominations close/roll closes: Midday September 22
• Voting opens (if more than one nomination): Friday September 27
• Voting closes: Saturday November  18 

Nomination papers are available from:

• Waihī Beach Library and Service Centre, 106 Beach Road
• Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s main office, Barkes Corner, 1484 Cameron Road, Greerton, Tauranga
• Council’s by-elections 2023 page – www.westernbay.govt.nz/council/elections
• Electoral 0800 number – 0800 922 822 

Te Puke By-election key dates: 

• Nominations open/roll open Thursday August 10
• Nominations close/roll closes midday Thursday September 7
• Voting opens Thursday October 12
• Voting closes midday Friday November 3 

 Nomination papers are available from: 

• Te Puke Library and Service Centre, 130 Jellicoe Street  
• Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s main office, Barkes Corner, 1484 Cameron Road, Greerton, Tauranga  
• www.westernbay.govt.nz/by-election-2023 
• Electoral 0800 number – 0800 922 822 

Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.