Whanganui District Council. Photo: LDR / Moana Ellis
The Whanganui District Council is organising a candidate information evening with a Māori focus ahead of local body elections later this year.
The 2025 election will be the first where Whanganui voters have the option of voting in a Māori ward.
Special guests Dinnie Moeahu (New Plymouth District Councillor, elected at large) and Bridget Bell (Māori ward councillor at the Manawatū District Council) will share insights about their journey into local government.
Both were also members of Te Maruata - the Local Government New Zealand network supporting Māori elected members.
The Māori focused candidate information would take place at 5.15pm on Friday, 16 May at Te Ao Hou Marae.
Deputy electoral officer and democracy services manager, Anna Palamountain, said the evening would be an opportunity for people from all backgrounds to find out what was involved in standing in the upcoming council election, but would also have a strong focus on Māori participation.
Whanganui would have two Māori ward councillor positions for the one ward up for grab at these elections.
Palamountain said the event would be a chance for people to gain insights into the reality of being a councillor and an understanding of the rules surrounding standing for election.
"Nominations open on 4 July and close at 12 noon on 1 August. So, if you haven't already, now is the time to be thinking about standing up and representing your community as a councillor - or shoulder-tapping others who you think would be well-suited for the role."
Palamountain said it was a unique election year for Whanganui.
"So even if you're not personally planning to run for council, it will be a great chance to learn how Whanganui's new Māori ward will work."
Māori wards for councils were similar to Māori electorates in Parliament. Māori roll voters elected Māori ward councillors, and general roll voters elected general ward councillors. However, regardless of whether you were on the Māori roll or General roll, everyone voted for the mayor.
In Whanganui, there would be one Māori Ward with two councillors elected (alongside 10 general ward councillors).
Chief executive, David Langford, said just like general ward councillors, Māori ward councillors would represent the whole community - taking an oath to serve all residents and ratepayers.
"The idea behind having a Māori ward is to increase Māori representation at local government level - as despite making up nearly a quarter of our district's population, people of Māori descent have historically been under-represented in Whanganui in terms of elected members."
Langford said the candidate information evening would also touch on the Māori ward referendum, which was being conducted as part of the 2025 local elections.
"At the same time as they vote for councillors and mayor, voters will be asked whether they support the continuation of a Māori ward in our District or not.
"This is a central government-imposed referendum that could cost ratepayers up to $45,000. When Whanganui District Council decided to introduce Māori wards in October last year, 53 percent of submissions from the community were in support of Māori wards."
There would be another Prospective Candidate Information event held at the War Memorial Hall on Monday, 16 June covering the election more broadly.
For more information about Whanganui's 2025 local elections, visit whanganui.govt.nz/vote.
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