A Maori wards petition made powerless this month by central government was about 1000 signatures short of sending Gisborne to a binding poll.
Lobby group Hobson's Pledge collected 722 signatures in support of sending the region to a referendum on Maori wards. Five percent of voters, or 1625 signatures, were needed.
It comes after Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta on February 1 announced an urg...
