Māori Ward Poll

A dark red icon with a Maori design in the middle of the circle.

At the Local Elections 2025, electors will also be asked to vote in a poll on whether to keep or remove the Whangārei District Māori ward, and whether to keep or remove the Northland Regional Council Māori constituency.  

The questions on the Māori Ward Poll will be simple and easy to understand: ‘I vote to keep the Māori ward / constituency’ or ‘I vote to remove the Māori ward / constituency’.

The outcome of the poll will decide the future of Māori wards / constituencies for our District and region. 

  • If the poll result is to remove Māori wards / constituencies, there won’t be elections for them in 2028 and 2031.
  • If the poll result is to keep Māori wards / constituencies, there will be elections for Māori wards / constituencies in 2028 and 2031.

This means that the outcome of the poll will take effect from 2028 and will be binding for two elections – the 2028 and 2031 Local Elections. 

Why are we having a poll on Māori wards? 

The establishment of Māori wards has been debated over many years by both Central and Local Government. Below is a timeline showing key milestones in the debate on Māori wards: 

  • 2001 – the Local Electoral Act allows councils to establish Māori wards subject to a condition that five per cent of the enrolled population can demand a poll to be held to determine the status of the Māori wards (‘poll provisions’). 
  • 2020 – Whangarei District Council establishes a Māori ward for the 2022 and 2025 Local Elections. 
  • 2021 – Central Government removes the ‘poll provision’ from electoral legislation. Whangarei District Council reaffirms its decision to establish a Māori ward for the 2022 and 2025 elections.
  • 2022 Local Election – two Māori ward councillors elected to Council by electors in the District-wide Whangārei District Māori ward. 
  • July 2024 – Central Government reinstates the ‘poll provision’ into electoral legislation and requires councils to decide to disestablish the Māori ward or have the voters decide whether to keep or remove the Whangārei District Māori ward. 
  • August 2024 - Whangarei District Council decides to hold a poll at the 2025 local elections. 

Who can vote in the Māori Ward Poll? 

You need to be enrolled as a resident and/or ratepayer to vote in the Māori Ward Poll. 

Enrol to vote

How will I get the poll? 

The local elections are conducted by postal vote. You will receive your voting papers and poll questions for Whangarei District Council and Northland Regional Council in the voting pack mailed to your address. 

If you do not receive your voting papers by Monday 22 September 2025, please contact the Electoral Officer for Whangarei District Council, Dale Ofsoske:

Phone: 09 973 9212 or 0800 922 822 

Email: dale@electionservices.co.nz

Find out more about Māori wards 

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