Te Tatau o Te Arawa is urging our people to have their say on the Rotorua District Council (Representation Arrangements) Bill before submissions close on 20 April 2022. 

Over the Easter break, Te Tatau o Te Arawa has written a submission in support of the Bill and we are making three key recommendations because: 

• it's a rare opportunity for us to lobby for better and fairer participation for our whenua Māori blocks, so that their vote counts in local elections too,
• we want to protect Māori interests so that should a Rural Ward be introduced, we say that the total number of Council seats remain at ten seats (plus the Mayor) so that the voice of Māori isn’t watered down; and 
• we want Māori representation on any community boards created under the Bill. 

We have left space for Te Arawa hapū, iwi and land trusts to endorse our submission by registering via this link. 

Otherwise, we encourage whānau to make their own submission. Te Ururoa Flavell has shared a useful template which you can download by clicking the button below.