Voting packs have gone out for the Hamilton City Council by-election for the Kirikirioa Māori ward.
There are eight candidates standing for the position, which is vacant because of the resignation of councillor Melaina Huaki for health reasons.
Janet Carson, the council’s general manager of partnerships and Māori communication, says turnout was about 15 percent in the 2021 election, half that of the general wards.
Work is going into changing that.
“We’re definitely doing all we can to get Māori more engaged and involved in council and I think a lot of that and I think a lot of that is around making the work we do more relevant to them but also easier for them to engage with us,” Ms Carson says.
There are two Māori ward councillors and three māngai Māori who also contribute to council decision making processes.
Postal voting closes on August 7,.
