Māori Wards

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On this page you will find information on the Māori Ward Referendum or poll

Changes to electoral legislation by the previous Government allowed councils to decide whether to include Māori wards in their representation arrangements without holding a poll.

At its 31 October 2023 meeting, our Council unanimously voted to establish one or more Māori Wards for the 2025 Local Elections. This decision triggered a representation review which was undertaken in 2024.

On 3 September 2024 Council approved the final proposal for the representation review to have 10 Councillors (nine general ward councillors and one Māori ward councillor). And affirmed the decision to establish a Māori Ward named Te Tara o Te Ika Māori Ward – covering our entire district and represented by a single councillor elected from the Māori electoral roll.

The Local Government Commission released its determination on Wednesday 15 January 2025 and decided to uphold Councils final proposal.

More information on our 2024 Representation Review is here

In line with new Government legislation, a separate poll will be required to be held during the 2025 election. The outcome of the poll will be binding for two triennial elections (2028 and 2031).

The question will be simple and easy to understand:

‘I vote to keep the Māori ward’ or ‘I vote to remove the Māori ward’.

Regardless of the outcome of the poll, the elected Māori ward councillor will hold office until the 2028 local election.

Why do we need to have a poll?

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).

 

 

What is a Māori Ward?

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.

Who can stand for the Māori ward seat?

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.

Who can vote for candidates in the Māori ward?

  • 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

 

Who can be on the Māori Roll?

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

 

How to enrol on the Māori Roll

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

 

 

 

 

 

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