Māori wards face mixed results across the motu, with some councils voting to retain them and others moving to remove them.
In the local body elections held across New Zealand in 2025, binding referendums were held in many councils to decide whether Māori wards (or constituencies) should be retained or removed. The results show that a majority of councils voted against keeping Māori wards, marking a significant moment in the ongoing debate over Māori representation in local government.
What the Numbers Say
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Out of 42 councils holding referenda to decide on Māori wards or constituencies, 25 councils voted to remove them by the 2028 elections.
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In total, 27 councils have now chosen to scrap Māori wards — this includes those that removed their Māori wards before 2025.
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Thus, just under 40% of councils voted yes (i.e. to keep Māori wards), meaning that about 60% or more voted no.
Some specific councils that voted to remove Māori wards include:
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Northland Regional Council
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Taranaki Regional Council
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Horizons Regional Council
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Hawke’s Bay Regional Council
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In 2024, the Government passed the Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act. This reinstated the requirement for some councils to hold binding polls (referendums) on Māori wards if those wards had been established without earlier public referenda.
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Councils that introduced Māori wards after the removal of the polling requirement (in 2021) were required to choose, by September 2024, to either hold a referendum in 2025 or disestablish their Māori ward.
For those councils voting no, Māori wards or constituencies will be disestablished for the 2028 and 2031 local body elections.
Voting ‘no’ means that people on the Māori electoral roll in those districts will vote in general wards in upcoming elections (rather than having a Māori ward seat). However, the Māori wards remain active for the current 2025‑2028 term regardless of the referendum result.
Many Māori leaders and community advocates expressed disappointment with the ‘no’ outcomes. For them, the decision is more than just about electoral structures-it’s about recognition, voice, and ensuring Treaty obligations are honoured in local governance.
Critics argue that:
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The requirement for referenda only in relation to Māori wards (and not for general or other kinds of wards) creates an unequal standard.
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The ‘no’ votes may reflect lack of public understanding or trust, misinformation, or campaigning environments that disadvantaged ‘yes’ advocates.
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The cost and complexity of referenda, especially when mandated by recent legislation, imposed extra burdens on councils and possibly on communities seeking Māori representation.
For councils, the results will mean readjusting representation arrangements, consultation efforts with iwi and hapū, and sometimes managing backlash from Māori communities who feel their mandated voice is being removed.
Supporters of the referenda law change argue that the results reflect democratic choice – that the public has spoken on whether Māori wards should be formalised with guaranteed seats. They maintain that the new legislation ensures local decision-making includes community consent.
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With more than half of Māori wards being disestablished, this outcome may change the balance of Māori representation in local government significantly.
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Some councils that voted to remove Māori wards may face legal or political challenges from Māori groups if the consultation or process is seen as flawed.
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There will likely be increased discussion in future about alternative models for Māori representation – advisory panels, co-governance, or different wards systems – especially in areas where Māori constitute a significant portion of the population.
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Engagement and voter education are expected to be high priorities leading into the next electoral cycle, as Māori and allied groups look to prevent further losses of formal representation.
