Voting in Māori wards
About voting in a Māori ward
You must be on the Māori electoral roll to vote for a candidate standing in a Māori ward.
Learn more about Māori wards and constituencies and why many councils will be polling in them in the 2025 elections here (link to “About polls for Māori wards and constituencies”)
Who can be on the Māori electoral roll?
Only New Zealand Māori and the descendants of New Zealand Māori can choose to be on the Māori electoral roll. Those who are enrolling for the first time can choose if they want to be on the Māori electoral roll or the general electoral roll.
Voting documents
Your voting documents will contain information on the candidates standing in your Māori ward or constituency.. You will be able to vote for:
- the Mayor
- Candidates standing in their Māori Ward, and
- Candidates standing for their Community Board or Local Board.
You will not be able to vote for candidates standing in general wards.
Once elected, all elected members, whether from General or Māori wards, take a formal oath of office to represent the entire community.
How to enrol for the first time
An application for registration as a parliamentary elector can be made online here https://vote.nz/enrolling/enrol-or-update/enrol-or-update-online/
The identity verification needed is a New Zealand driver licence, New Zealand passport or RealMe verified identity.
If people are not able to enrol online, they can enrol or update their details in other ways, more information can be found here https://vote.nz/enrolling/enrol-or-update/other-ways-to-enrol/ on the Electoral Commission website or they can call 0800 36 76 56 to arrange for forms to be sent to them directly.
How to change rolls
If you are Māori you can change your roll type at any time except:
- in the 3 months before local elections which are held every 3 years
- in the 3 months before a general election
- before a parliamentary by-election if the change would move you into the electorate where the by-election is being held
Click here to change your roll type https://vote.nz/enrolling/enrol-or-update/enrol-or-update-online/
Voting by mail
Voters who are enrolled on the Māori electoral roll or the general electoral roll by Friday 1 August 2025 will receive their voting document in the mail. People can still enrol after this date but they will need to cast a special vote.
The local authority elections are postal elections. Voting documents will be delivered from Tuesday 9 to Monday 22 September and include a free return envelope.
It is recommended votes be posted back to a street receiver post box by Tuesday 7 October 2025 to ensure councils get them before the close of voting. After 7 October 2025, votes are able to be returned to councils’ secure ballot boxes in council facilities, Woolworths Supermarkets and selected Fresh Choice, Super Value, Pak’nSave, New World, Four Square, stores.
More information about this will be on councils’ websites closer to the election. The close of voting is midday on Saturday 11 October 2025.
Get in touch with your Electoral Officer
If you have more questions contact your Electoral Officer or Deputy Electoral Officer.