New Zealand First has announced it will campaign on disestablishing Auckland Council’s Independent Māori Statutory Board, known as Houkura, making the board’s future a likely flashpoint in the lead-up to the 2026 General Election.
The move would see the disestablishment of the statutory body established under the Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009.
Houkura was created as part of Auckland’s super city reforms and has a statutory role in advising Auckland Council on matters affecting mana whenua and mataawaka. The board is tasked with promoting cultural, social, environmental and economic issues of significance to Māori and helping ensure the council meets its obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
The board was formerly known as the Independent Māori Statutory Board before rebranding as Houkura in 2024. Its members are selected through a process involving mana whenua representatives and operate independently from Auckland Council.
The announcement reflects an ongoing political debate around Māori representation in local government and the role of statutory bodies established to provide Māori input into decision-making processes.
Supporters of Houkura argue the board provides an important mechanism for ensuring Māori voices are heard in Auckland governance, particularly on issues relating to Treaty obligations, environmental management, planning and community wellbeing. Critics argue its structure gives unelected representatives influence over council processes and should be reviewed.
The issue has already attracted attention from other political parties. ACT has recently supported proposals to reduce voting powers held by unelected representatives on Auckland Council committees, signalling that Māori representation in local government could become a significant election issue.
The debate comes amid wider discussions about local government reform, governance structures and Māori participation in public decision-making across Aotearoa.
For Auckland’s Māori communities, the future of Houkura is likely to raise broader questions about representation, partnership and how local authorities engage with mana whenua and mataawaka in the governance of Tāmaki Makaurau.
With the election campaign beginning to take shape, the future of the Independent Māori Statutory Board appears set to become another battleground in the wider national conversation about Māori representation and the place of Te Tiriti within public institutions.
