2025 New Zealand local referendums on Māori wards and constituencies
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The 2025 New Zealand local referendums on Māori wards and constituencies are upcoming referendums to be held on 11 October 2025 alongside that year's local elections, on the question of whether to have dedicated Māori wards and constituencies on local councils.
Background
[edit]The referendums were spurred by the ruling National-led coalition government's passing of the Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2024, reinstating the requirement that councils must hold referendums before establishing Māori wards that the previous Labour government had removed. Councils that had introduced Māori wards without holding a referendum were required to hold a poll at the 2025 elections if they wished to keep them.[1]
Only two of the 45 councils with current or proposed Māori wards voted against holding a poll to determine their future. Several councils said they wanted to look into legal advice with regards to ignoring the government's requirement to hold polls.[2]
Tauranga City Council is not holding a referendum because they already held local elections recently in 2024.[3]
Endorsements
[edit]Mayors
[edit]| For | Against |
|---|---|
Results
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ Exact wording will vary
References
[edit]- ^ "What you need to know about Māori wards". Radio New Zealand. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
- ^ McConnell, Glenn (9 September 2024). "Councils vs Government in battle over Māori wards". Stuff. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
- ^ "About Māori wards and constituencies". Vote Local. 2024.
- ^ Williams, Al (2 September 2024). "Hauraki mayor takes swing at Government then reaffirms support for Māori wards". Waikato Herald via NZHerald.
- ^ "Councillors unanimously back Maaori Wards". Waikato District Council. 8 May 2024.
- ^ Paterson, Te Aniwaniwa (27 August 2024). "Unanimous vote to keep Māori wards at Heretaunga District Council". Te Ao Māori News.
- ^ Rosenberg, Matthew (4 October 2022). "Tairāwhiti mayoral candidates endorse Māori wards". Radio New Zealand.
- ^ de Graaf, Peter (6 September 2024). "Far North District councillors vote unanimously to retain their Māori ward following impassioned meeting". Radio New Zealand.
- ^ Wise, Rachel (5 September 2024). "Central Hawke's Bay District Council affirms decision to have Māori wards". Hawke's Bay Today via NZHerald.
- ^ Wise, Kirsten (10 August 2024). "Māori wards not racist, important for representation - Napier mayor Kirsten Wise". Hawke's Bay Today via NZHerald. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ Botting, Susan (18 April 2024). "Kaipara mayor wants Māori ward gone before next local elections". Stuff.
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