A former mayor of New Plymouth - who was spat at in the street over his support of establishing a Māori ward in the city - feels vindicated now the Government has stepped in to scrap citizen-initiated polls on the divisive issue.
Local Government minister Nanaia Mahuta has announced a bill will be brought to Parliament under urgency to ditch the "discriminatory" polls ahead of the 2022 local body elections.
Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin was at the announcement.
