Māori Ward Poll

Overview

At the Local Elections 2025, electors were 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 outcome of the poll decided the future of Māori wards / constituencies for our District and region. 

Electors voted to remove the Māori ward for Whangarei District Council effective for the 2028 and 2031 local elections.

2025 local election final results

Why did we have 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. 
• October 2025 - Electors voted to remove the Māori ward for Whangarei District Council effective for the 2028 and 2031 local elections.

Find out more about Māori wards