About Māori wards and constituencies

What is the difference between a Māori ward and a Māori constituency? The answer is straightforward:

  • Regional councils can have Māori constituencies
  • City and district councils can have Māori wards

What are Māori wards or constituencies?

Māori wards and constituencies in Local Government are the equivalent of Māori electorates, or seats, in Central Government. Their purpose is to provide specific democratic representation for Māori who otherwise may not have a voice in government. Only those on the Māori Parliamentary electoral roll can vote for candidates standing in the Māori wards and constituencies.

Māori wards and constituencies exist alongside general wards, covering the same geographic areas.

How long have Māori electorates, Māori wards and constituencies been around?

Māori electorates were established in 1867 and are a well-established part of New Zealand’s democracy. Māori wards and constituencies were brought into legislation much more recently in 2001.

Why is there debate about Māori wards and constituencies?

The discussion surrounding Māori representation has sparked differing opinions within communities. Polling residents on the establishment of Māori wards brings this issue to the forefront.

New Zealand’s history reflects both the strong partnership between Māori and the Crown, as well as periods of conflict over land, language, resources, and governance.

Establishing Māori wards and constituencies provides an inclusive and democratic avenue for councils to collaborate with Māori, fostering positive relationships and ensuring decisions benefit the entire community.

Why have Māori wards and constituencies?

Māori wards and constituencies guarantee Māori representation on a local authority and contribute to Māori participation in council decision-making as required under the Local Government Act 2002.

Are Māori wards and constituencies consistent with the principle of one person, one vote?

Yes. Voters in Māori wards and constituencies receive the same number of votes as those in general wards. In fact, there’s a statutory formula for determining the number of Māori ward/constituency seats. It is based on the total number of councillor positions available (other than the Mayor), and the proportion of those on the Māori roll compared to the general roll, per council area.  It is this provision that ensures that a vote in a Māori ward has broadly the same weight as a vote in any other ward.

Who is eligible to stand or vote in a Māori ward or constituency?

If your council has Māori wards or constituencies, the following rules apply:

  • Standing for election: Any eligible person can stand in either Māori or general wards/constituencies. Candidates do not need to be of Māori descent or on the Māori electoral roll to stand in a Māori ward/constituency, but they must be New Zealand citizens, parliamentary electors, and nominated by two electors from the ward/constituency they are standing in.
  • Voting: Only those on the Māori electoral roll can vote for candidates standing in Māori wards or constituencies. Similarly, those on the general roll can only vote for candidates standing in general wards.

Will my Council have Māori wards or constituencies for the period 2025-2028 and into the future?

If your council has Māori wards or constituencies in place now, (or if it has decided to establish them but they are not yet in place), then your council will have them for the 2025-2028 period.

Will my Council be running a poll asking the community whether they want Māori wards or constituencies at the 2025 elections?

If your council has Māori wards or constituencies in place now, (or if it has decided to establish them but they are not yet in place), it is also likely your council will be running a poll at the election asking voters whether they support keeping them or not.  The following lists set out council’s decisions on Māori wards or constituencies and whether they will be running a poll in 2025 or not.

Councils running an electoral contest and a poll for Māori wards or constituencies at the 2025 elections:

  1. Central Hawke’s Bay District Council
  2. Far North District Council
  3. Gisborne District Council
  4. Hamilton City Council
  5. Hastings District Council
  6. Hauraki District Council
  7. Hawke’s Bay Regional Council
  8. Manawatū-Whanganui Regional Council (Horizons Regional Council)
  9. Horowhenua District Council
  10. Hutt City Council
  11. Kāpiti Coast District Council
  12. Kawerau District Council
  13. Manawatū District Council
  14. Masterton District Council
  15. New Plymouth District Council
  16. Marlborough District Council
  17. Matamata-Piako District Council
  18. Napier City Council
  19. Nelson City Council
  20. Northland Regional Council
  21. Ōtorohanga District Council
  22. Porirua City Council
  23. Palmerston North City Council
  24. Rangitikei District Council
  25. Rotorua District Council
  26. Ruapehu District Council
  27. South Taranaki District Council
  28. South Wairarapa District Council
  29. Stratford District Council
  30. Taranaki Regional Council
  31. Tararua District Council
  32. Tasman District Council
  33. Taupo District Council
  34. Thames-Coromandel District Council
  35. Waikato District Council
  36. Waipa District Council
  37. Wellington City Council
  38. Wellington Region (Greater Wellington Regional Council)
  39. Whakatāne District Council
  40. Whanganui District Council
  41. Whangārei District Council
  42. Western Bay of Plenty District Council

Councils with Māori wards or constituencies that will have an electoral contest but are exempt from the poll provisions at the 2025 elections:

  1. Bay of Plenty Regional Council – Local legislation enables Māori constituency
  2. Ōpōtiki District Council – Previously met the poll provisions
  3. Waikato Regional Council – Previously met the poll provisions
  4. Wairoa District Council – Previously met the poll provisions

Councils that have reversed their Māori ward decisions and will not have an electoral contest or poll for Māori wards in 2025:

  1. Kaipara District Council   
  2. Upper Hutt City Council 

Council that has Māori representation by appointment of Māori to Council. It will not have an electoral contest or a poll for its Māori constituency:

  1. Canterbury Region (Environment Canterbury) – Local legislation enables Māori appointments 

When will my Council action the poll result to either keep Māori wards/constituencies or remove them?

The majority vote of the poll will decide the future of Māori wards/constituencies for your council.

Although the decision will be made in 2025 from the poll result, it will be three years before it is actioned. If the poll result favours abolishing Māori wards/constituencies, there will not be an electoral contest for them in 2028. Conversely, if the poll result favours keeping Māori wards/constituencies there will be an electoral contest for them at the local elections in 2028 and 2031.

Why is my Council running a poll?

The poll is because the Government wants the community to make the decision on whether it wants Māori wards or constituencies. The Government has reinstated Māori ward/constituency poll provisions that were removed from legislation in 2022. Polls at the 2025 local elections are a compulsory step for councils that established Māori wards or constituencies after 2020 without the poll provisions in place.

Talk to your Council’s Electoral Officer

If you intend standing for a Māori ward or constituency and your council is one of those affected by the Government’s reforms, talk to your Council’s Electoral Officer about poll outcome scenarios and implications for councillors.