Simeon Brown: Local Government Minister on the decision to subject Māori wards to community referendum

The Government says it's fully aligned around the coalition commitment to make a U-turn on Māori wards.   A new bill requires the provision of Māori wards to be decided by community referendum, beginning with the next local body election.   It reverses legislation from the previous Government that brought Māori wards into line with other wards and protected Māori seats from being disestablished or vetoed by referendum.  Local Government Minister Simeon Brown told Mike Hosking that the Government's working as quickly as it can to instate the legislation from 2028.   He says some councils that don't wish to poll ahead of the next local election, have the ability to reverse the decision to establish Māori wards in the interim.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.