October 27, 2023
New Māori regional constituency solidifies Māori council voice
The Greater Wellington Regional Council has announced a Māori constituency for the 2025 elections with one councillor for all 6 mana whenua.
The decision has unanimous support from mana whenua: Ngā Hapū o Ōtaki, Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Taranaki Whānui ki te Ūpoko o te Ika, Rangitāne ō Wairarapa and Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa.
2022 population data shows the Māori electoral population made up 8.17 per cent of the Wellington region’s total electoral population, enabling a single-member Māori constituency.
The regional council’s first elected Māori councillor and Te Tiriti o Waitangi Komiti chair Hikitia Ropata says constituents want Treaty of Waitangi principles implemented and this is a step in that direction.
“They’re mindful that they’re addressing some of those equity issues, fairness principles for the impacts of the decisions we make for our people, our Māori people within our electorate. It’s not always easy. We don’t always agree. But it’s a fantastic council that actually has very robust conversations about the issues,” she says.
Hikitia Ropata says the job now is to turn one seat into six, for each mana whenua at the governance table.