Final results confirm axeing of more than half of Māori wards

As the dust settles from the local elections final results have confirmed that more than half of councils who held referendums on Māori wards have voted to remove them.

Twenty-four of the 42 councils that were required to hold a referendum on Māori wards voted to remove them, the remaining 18 voted to keep them.

Referendum results are binding and will apply for the next two elections, in 2028 and 2031.

Newly elected Tararua Māori Ward councillor Keshaan Te Waaka told RNZ she was disappointed that her district voted to remove Māori wards, but she was prepared [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/576302/21-year-old-maori-tongan-rangatahi-secures-council-seat-in-rural-tararua

to continue the momentum from her election victory].

"That's the next mahi is knuckling down for three years for our next plan, what's next for our community, because I refuse to leave that space empty. That's just not going to happen while I'm there."

Which councils have voted to keep Māori wards?

- Greater Wellington Regional Council

- Horizons Regional Council

- Far North District Council

- Gisborne District Council

- Hamilton City Council

- Hutt City Council

- Kāpiti Coast District Council

- Kawerau District Council

- Masterton District Council

- Nelson City Council

- Palmerston North City Council

- Porirua City Council

- Rotorua Lakes Council

- Ruapehu District Council

- South Wairarapa District Council

- Whakatāne District Council

- Wellington City Council

- Whanganui District Council

Which have voted to remove?

- Hawkes Bay Regional Council

- Northland Regional Council

- Taranaki Regional Council

- Central Hawkes Bay District Council

- Hauraki District Council

- Hastings District Council

- Horowhenua District Council

- Manawatū District Council

- Marlborough District Council

- Matamata-Piako District Council

- Napier City Council

- New Plymouth District Council

- Ōtorohanga District Council

- Rangitikei District Council

- South Taranaki District Council

- Stratford District Council

- Tararua District Council

- Tasman District Council

- Taupō District Council

- Thames-Coromandel District Council

- Waikato District Council

- Waipā District Council

- Whangārei District Council

- Western Bay of Plenty District Council

In total, 26 councils have scrapped their Māori wards since the government's new legislation was introduced. Kaipara voted to remove its wards ahead of the 2025 elections while Upper Hutt rescinded its decision to establish a ward.

Māori wards remain at Tauranga City Council, for now. The city will have to poll its residents in the next term, with the results taking effect after the 2028 election.

Ōpōtiki, Wairoa and Waikato Regional Councils were exempt from running referendums at the 2025 elections as their wards were either set up before the removal of poll requirements or in the case of Ōpōtiki they were set up after voluntarily holding a poll, which was in favour.

At Bay of Plenty Regional Council local legislation enables a Māori constituency, while legislation also enables Māori appointments at Environment Canterbury. Neither were required to run a referendum at this election.

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