The NZ local government elections are almost here, and I will be voting to keep Māori wards. So will my 101-year-old Mum. And we hope you will too.
Here are some reasons why I am voting to keep Māori wards:
- Improved decision making: Having Māori voices at the council table means better decisions. As I said the last time I blogged about Māori wards, way back in 2018, Māori voices on council promotes harmony. And, as Hastings mayor Sandra Hazelhurst says “Since the introduction of Māori wards I’ve seen the positive change in making a healthier, stronger and more unified community.” The sharing of wisdom and world views results in better decisions for our people and our land.
- Representation: Local government systems were established without Māori involvement, and, since their establishment, Māori have been significantly under-represented at the council table. Local government makes decisions on issues of significance to Māori, so establishing a Māori ward simply ensures Māori have a voice in those decisions.
- Fairness: Councils have already been through consultation processes in deciding to establish Māori wards, just has they do for other kinds of wards, like rural wards. It is inconsistent and unfair that Māori wards are subject to expensive public polls while other types of wards are not.
My 101-year-old mother, Pat Frykberg, is voting for Māori wards for different reasons. She grew up in South Africa and experienced apartheid first hand, before she and my Dad immigrated to Aotearoa NZ in the 1950s. She says:
“My understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi is that it requires both parties to be involved. And I have seen what happened in South Africa where people didn’t have a say and where we didn’t talk together. It creates terrible divisions between us. We don’t want that here.”
There is nothing radical and nothing to fear from Māori wards. They simply provide those on the Māori roll a chance to vote for someone to represent them at council, as has been happening in central government since 1867.
If you want to know more, check out Groundwork’s useful explainer on Māori wards, this helpful guide to voting for Māori wards, and this information for voters website on how voting in local elections works. Voting papers will be delivered from September 9 2025, and voting closes at midday October 11 2025. Other key dates here.
And I warmly invite you and your families to join me and my Mum in voting to keep Māori wards in this local government election.
Good thoughts. I provided some feedback on the proposed question for the referendum which included the plural ‘wards’. In almost all elections only one ward is being voted on. I felt that the plural misled people, potentially, into thinking they were voting on the idea of the Māori ward system generally, or to think there was more than one, or to think that more than one ward was being proposed. The Electoral Officer agreed, and the wording has changed to the more accurate singular.
But a more accurate question still would be: “I agree that people who choose to be on the Māori electoral roll be able to vote for a candidate in a ward made up of people on the Māori electoral roll” OR “I do NOT agree that people who choose to be on the Māori electoral roll be able to vote for a candidate in a ward made up of people on the Māori electoral roll”.
And of course Councils, as representative democratic bodies, should be able to make the decision on a Māori ward in the same way as they do on all wards, without the possibility of a referendum – something that is not possible when Councils decide on other types of ward.
Thanks for this Colin, and good on you for talking with the electoral commission. Agreed on all points. It is very strange that one seat at the table should cause so much kerfuffle. It is not really even much of a step towards honouring te Tiriti. But way better than no voices at the table.
Great work Kate. Māori Wards benefits everyone, not just Māori. I had the rare privilege (as a Pākehā) of starting school in a bilingual class, immersed in Māori tikanga and culture from a young age. I haven’t come across any other culture in this country that upholds so strongly a care for the collective wellbeing of people, and the environment. Those are the kinds of values I want to see in government. Bring on Māori Wards!
Kia ora Phee Bee – thanks for this. Yes indeed, Māori wards benefit everyone, and the collective wellbeing of people and the environment is badly needed right now. we have much to learn.