The subject
Māori wards and constituencies have been around since 2001 and were introduced in Porirua in 2022. Māori wards and constituencies exist alongside general wards and represent those people of Māori descent. The wards are an avenue for Māori to have representation and contribute towards decision-making matters at council.
The debate
Between 2002 and the present, central government has debated about the establishment of Māori wards and constituencies in local government. Over this time, central government has also debated about the requirement for 5% of the enrolled population to demand a poll to be held to determine the status of the Māori wards and constituencies (poll provisions).
- 2002: Establishment of Māori wards and constituencies with poll provisions
- 2006: Debate to remove Māori wards and constituencies
- 2010: Debate to make Māori wards and constituencies compulsory
- 2017: Debate to remove poll provisions
- 2021: Removal of poll provisions
- 2024: Reinstatement of poll provisions
The discussion
Porirua City Council was required by central government to decide whether they would disestablish Porirua’s Māori Ward, or take the question to the voters at the 2025 local elections. In August 2024, Porirua City Council decided to hold a poll at the next elections.
The question
The question about whether Porirua's voters want to keep or remove Māori wards and constituencies will put to all those who are enrolled, regardless of which electoral roll they are enrolled on.
Voters will additionally be asked whether they would prefer Greater Wellington Regional Council’s Te Upoko a te Ika a Māui Māori Constituency to remain or to be removed.
The format of the poll question is:
I vote to KEEP Māori wards (or Māori constituencies); or
I vote to REMOVE Māori wards (or Māori constituencies).
The result
The outcome of the poll will take effect from 2028 and be binding for two election periods. The poll provisions will be reinstated (regardless of this poll outcome) from 2034.
Frequently asked questions
General Electoral Roll: A ward is a geographic area in a district or city council, and includes the suburb/area that you are enrolled in.
Councillors are elected to represent the area's population and the unique needs of that community. Elected councillors also make a declaration once elected, to act in the best interests of the city as a whole.
Multiple wards can be established across the council's area, with multiple councillor positions available in each, depending on how many people are enrolled on the General Electoral Roll and total population.
Porirua city has two general wards: Pāuatahanui General and Onepoto General.
Māori Electoral Roll: The ward is city-wide across a district or city council for those of Māori descent.
Councillors are elected to represent the unique needs of the community. Elected councillors also make a declaration once elected, to act in the best interests of the city as a whole.
Multiple councillor positions can be available within the ward, depending on how many people are enrolled on the Māori Electoral Roll and total population.
Porirua City has one Māori Ward: Parirua Māori.
What is a constituency?
A constituency is similar to ward but used to describe areas and populations in a regional council.
Greater Wellington Regional Council has six general constituencies: Kāpiti Coast, Pōneke/Wellington, Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai/Lower Hutt, Te Awa Kairangi ki Uta/Upper Hutt and Wairarapa.
Greater Wellington Regional Council has one Māori constituency: Te Upoko a te Ika a Māui.
What is a poll?
A poll means to record the opinion or vote of a population.
At the 2025 local elections, the population will be polled on the Māori wards and constituencies in Porirua.
What are poll provisions?
The poll provisions are the rules around what is required to allow for council to poll the population on Māori wards and constituencies in the future.
The poll provisions will be reinstated from 2028 as they were before 2021, including the following:
- the threshold for petitioning council to conduct the poll is 5% of the enrolled Porirua population
- the results of the poll being conducted is binding for two local election periods
- the percentage required for the outcome is over 50% (simple majority).
Who is allowed to vote in this poll?
Anyone who is enrolled to vote, whether on the Māori or general electoral roll, is eligible to vote.
What happens after we vote?
The outcome of the poll is binding and will apply for the next two triennial elections (2028 and 2031) for your local council area but will not apply for the 2025-2028 period.
Who votes for who?
Electors on the Māori electoral roll are able to vote for candidates for a Māori ward and a Māori constituency, but not for candidates in any general ward or general constituency. In the same way, electors on the general electoral roll are able to vote for candidates for a general ward or general constituency, but not for candidates in any Māori ward or Māori constituency.
Everyone votes for the Mayor.
Who do Māori ward and Māori constituency councillors represent?
Māori ward and Māori constituency councillors have the same responsibility as general ward and general constituency councillors to represent the entire community.
All councillors make a declaration that they will carry out their duties in the best interests of the residents and ratepayers in the area they are elected to represent.
Where can I find more information?
For more information go to www.votelocal.co.nz/maori-wards-and-constituencies/
