Māori ward referendum

Hutt City written in dark blue with a representation of the river between Hutt and City. In smaller dark blue text below is Te Awa Kairangi. The logo is presented on a mid-blue background with light blue topographical markings. banner image

Māori Ward referendum

From early September until midday on 11 October 2025, you’ll be asked to vote in a referendum on whether to keep the Mana Kairangi ki Tai Māori Ward in Lower Hutt. The referendum will take place alongside the local government elections.

This is also the first election in which Lower Hutt voters on the Māori electoral roll can vote for a Māori Ward councillor. The councillor elected will serve for the 2025-2028 term and the referendum will determine whether to continue the Māori Ward in the 2028 local government elections.

Why is the Council running a referendum?

The Government has reinstated the legal requirement for local authorities to run a poll on Māori Wards.

Since Hutt City Council established a Māori Ward after 2020 without a public vote, it must now hold a referendum in 2025.

Everyone can vote in the referendum

Whether you’re on the Māori or general electoral roll, you can take part in the referendum.

Everyone on the electoral roll was sent an update pack in April. If you have not received one, you are either not enrolled or your address needs updating.  Visit vote.nz or call 0800 36 76 56 to check or update your details, or to enrol for the first time.

What is a Māori Ward?

A Māori Ward is like the Māori seats in Parliament. It provides dedicated representation for voters on the Māori electoral roll.

  • If you're on the Māori roll, you vote for candidates in the Māori Ward.
  • If you're on the general roll, you vote for candidates in your local general ward.
  • Everyone votes for the Mayor.

The Māori Ward aims to:

  • Honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi by supporting partnership
  • Strengthen Māori input into Council decisions
  • Provide fairer representation for Māori communities

Why have a Māori Ward?

The Māori Ward ensures Māori are represented on Council and helps Māori participation in decision-making, as required by the Local Government Act 2002.

It provides a democratic and inclusive way for Council to work with Māori to deliver better outcomes for all communities.

What your vote means

The result of the referendum will decide the future of the Māori Ward in Lower Hutt.

  • The referendum result will be binding.
  • If the majority votes to keep the Māori Ward, an election for the Māori Ward councillor will be held in 2028 and again in 2031.
  • If the majority votes to remove the Māori Ward, there will be no Māori Ward election for the next two elections in 2028 and 2031.
  • A future referendum on this matter could enable the re-establishment of a Māori Ward, if a majority votes in favour of it.

Why is there debate about Māori Wards?

The discussion surrounding Māori representation has sparked differing opinions within communities. Polling residents on the establishment of Māori Wards brings this issue to the forefront.

New Zealand’s history reflects both the strong partnership between Māori and the Crown, as well as periods of conflict over land, language, resources, and governance.

Establishing Māori Wards and constituencies provides an inclusive and democratic avenue for councils to collaborate with Māori, fostering positive relationships and ensuring decisions benefit the entire community.

Some issues have been raised:

  • That the Māori Ward goes against the idea of "one person, one vote". This is not the case – everyone gets the same number of votes, and there is a formula in law to make sure voting power is fairly balanced. It is this provision that ensures that a vote in a Māori ward has broadly the same weight as a vote in any other ward.
  • That the wider community should or shouldn't decide on Māori representation. No other ward type (such as rural or urban wards) is subject to referendums – the Māori Ward is the only one treated this way.

Do Māori Ward voters have the same number of votes as general voters?

Yes, however the number of candidates that you can vote for depends on ward electoral size.

  • Lower Hutt has five general (geographic) wards in 2025, three wards electing one councillor each with the other two general wards electing two councillors each. (This is due to their larger size with more residents and ensuring representative parity between wards).
  • Using current roll numbers, there would be one Māori Ward for the whole city, with one councillor.
  • Māori roll voters vote for a Māori Ward councillor and general roll voters vote for either one or two councillors in their general ward.
  • All voters also vote for a mayor and the five at-large councillors elected city-wide.

Council’s decision to establish a Māori Ward

In November 2024, Hutt City Council voted to establish a Māori Ward for the 2025 local elections. The decision was strongly supported by our Mana Whenua partners:

  • Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika
  • Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira
  • Wellington Tenths Trust
  • Palmerston North Māori Reserve Trust
  • Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa ki Te Upoko o Te Ika a Māui

The Māori Ward councillor will:

  • Represent people of Māori descent
  • Work alongside Mana Whenua
  • Represent the best interests of all Lower Hutt residents

More information