Te Wāri Māori | Māori Ward
The Government recently passed the Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act. This requires councils like Rotorua Lakes Council to either retain the Māori ward and undertake a binding poll alongside the 2025 local government elections or disestablish the Māori ward and either roll back to the 2019 representation model or undertake a shortened representation review.
Councils that have a poll in 2025 will retain Māori wards until 2028. The 2025 poll will determine if they are retained for subsequent local elections in 2028 and 2031.
To help the community understand, Rotorua Lakes Council will hold a series of webinars to discuss the legislation, outline the Government’s options and provide an opportunity for people to ask questions.
This series of webinars will be held this week (12 August) and the public can register by clicking on the following links:
- Tuesday, 13 August at 1pm (See Webinar recordings to view)
- Thursday, 15 August, at 4pm
Ask a question or seek further clarification about this kaupapa
Pātai
Ngā pukapuka matua | Key Documents
Ngā pātai kārangaranga | FAQs
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Transitional arrangements for 45 affected councils under the proposed Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Bill
- If a council does not rescind its Māori ward(s), will the ward still be in effect at the 2025 local election?
- Would by-elections for Māori wards councillors that occur before the 2025 local elections be affected by this legislation?
- Can a council choose to disestablish/rescind its decision on Māori wards right now? Would this also allow a representation review process to get underway?
- Will the Bill have an impact on other mechanisms for Māori participation in local government, such as appointments to committees?
- The proposal is that the Special Consultative Procedure won’t apply to council resolutions to reverse recent decisions on Māori wards. Is the intention that no consultation process is required at all?
- What are the implications of a council(s) refusing to undergo this process?
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Reinstatement of the pre-2021 Māori wards poll provisions
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Binding Polls
- Is a binding poll considered ‘won’ if it receives over 50% support?
- Is a poll at the 2025 local elections not required if a council disestablishes its Māori wards?
- When will electors start being able to petition for binding polls?
- If a council decides to reverse its decision to establish Māori wards, can it still hold a poll (to determine public views on Māori wards)
- If councils hold a binding poll at the 2025 local elections, does that mean any Māori wards currently in place would remain until 2028?
- Some councils have a representation review process due in 2028, could this be considered then instead of requiring a poll?
- Why can’t councils hold polls earlier so these changes could take effect at the 2025 elections?
- If a council holds a binding poll at the 2025 local elections and the result is to maintain / resolve to establish Māori wards, are there any affects to be aware of?
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Representation Reviews
- When will councils need to carry out representation reviews under the new legislation?
- . If a Council resolved to disestablish Māori wards, what does the shortened representation review process require?
- What is the effect of these changes on councils that are currently undergoing their representation review processes?
- Would the shortened representation review process apply to the Council alone, or extend to its community boards also?
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Local electoral processes dates adjustments