Māori Wards

Where a local authority has established Māori wards or Māori constituencies since 2020 without undertaking a poll, legislation now requires a poll to be undertaken in conjunction with the 2025 local elections (Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2024).

Māori wards provide a way for Māori to contribute to decision-making and have representation at council. Thames-Coromandel District Council Māori ward/s will represent Māori in our community so that our decision-making is fairer and more inclusive. Electors enrolled on the Māori electoral roll will vote for candidates standing for Māori wards.

Similarly, electors enrolled on the general electoral roll will vote for candidates standing for general wards. A Māori ward candidate will become a councillor at council. Councillors have a responsibility to represent their communities.

Māori ward councillors will have a particular responsibility to represent people of Māori descent and bring forward Māori views and aspirations. However, they also represent the entire community in our District. “Wards” are the parts of a council area that have been determined by population and communities of interest. These can be either general wards or Māori wards

For more information on Māori Wards and constituencies please visit  About Māori wards and constituencies - Vote 25 | Pōti 25

You can find out more about our current ward structure here:Our Wards Information.

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.

To be eligible to stand for election, a candidate must be:

• A New Zealand citizen (by birth or citizenship ceremony); and
• Enrolled as a Parliamentary elector (anywhere in New Zealand); and
• Nominated by two electors whose names appear on the electoral roll within the ward a candidate is standing for. Candidates in Māori wards do not need to be of Māori descent, but they do need to be on the Parliamentary electoral roll.

Candidates cannot stand for both a General ward and a Māori ward at the same time.

• If you choose the Māori roll, you will vote for a candidate in the Māori electorate you live in.
• If you choose the general roll, you will vote for a candidate in the general electorate you live in.

You can find more information here What does your choice mean for you? | Vote NZ

If you are of Māori descent you can enrol in either the General or Māori electoral rolls.
You can find more information here General roll or Māori roll? | Vote NZ

You can enrol or check or update your details including changing your roll via Enrol or update online | Vote NZ, all you need is a New Zealand driver licence, New Zealand passport or RealMe verified identity.

If you cannot enrol or update your details online, you can download an enrolment form from Vote.nz or you can complete one at one of our Offices.

 For more information on the Māori Electoral option visit What is the Māori Electoral Option? | Vote NZ