The referenda were triggered by the Government repealing the Local Electoral (Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2021, which had allowed councils to establish Māori wards without a referendum. The repeal reintroduces binding referenda – a tool historically used to block Māori representation. This is one of many Government decisions that negatively impact Māori and Māori workers in public and community services, and that the PSA has and continues to oppose.
EMBEDDING MĀORI REPRESENTATION
Te Rūnanga o Ngā Toa Āwhina (Te Rūnanga), representing our Māori PSA members, has long advocated for justice, equity, and a Te Tiriti-based Aotearoa, upheld by its public and community services. Supporting Māori wards shines a light on the actions of this Government against Māori and kaimahi Māori, and a continuation of our opposition to the Treaty Principles and Regulatory Standards bills.
Māori wards are essential for upholding Te Tiriti obligations and ensuring Māori have a say in decisions that impact their communities. Māori representation must be more than symbolic – it must be embedded in the structures of public governance.
We know this because of our lived experience. Te Rūnanga members, many of whom work in frontline public services, see daily how systemic inequities affect Māori. They know that without Māori voices at the decision-making table, policies often fail to reflect the realities of Māori communities.
A NECESSARY MECHANISM FOR MĀORI VOICE
Te Rūnanga supports the finding of the 2025 Waitangi Tribunal Inquiry on Māori Wards, that Māori wards are a matter of justice, not politics. The Māori Wards and Constituencies Urgent Inquiry (WAI 3365), launched in response to the Government’s law change, challenged the reasoning and impact of the move by this Government.
The Tribunal’s report found that the Crown failed to uphold key principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, including active protection, equity, and partnership. It concluded that the repeal process lacked meaningful consultation with Māori and undermined their right to participate in local decision-making. The report emphasized that Māori wards are not a privilege – they are a necessary mechanism to ensure Māori voices are heard in local government, where decisions directly affect whenua, wai, and whānau.
A MODERN EXPRESSION OF RANGATIRATANGA
Support for Māori wards among iwi Māori is strong and deeply rooted in tikanga and whakapapa. Māori wards provide a pathway for iwi to engage with councils on issues like resource management, housing, and climate resilience. They ensure that decisions affecting Māori land and taonga are made with Māori input, not imposed on Māori from outside.
Iwi leaders have emphasized that Māori Wards are a modern expression of rangatiratanga – the right of Māori to govern themselves and participate fully in civic life. They are also a practical tool for building relationships between councils and iwi, fostering collaboration on shared goals like protecting the environment and the wellbeing of our communities.
They foster good, fair processes, reduce the risk of litigation, and benefit all ratepayers as councils work together with the communities they represent for a truly equitable future that recognises the past.
WHY YOUR VOTE MATTERS
The 2025 local elections are not just about choosing councillors – they are about choosing values. Supporting Māori wards pushes back against a broader agenda that includes privatisation, cuts to public services, and rolling back climate action. These issues disproportionately affect Māori and working-class communities.
Voting for Māori wards, and candidates that support pay equity, the living wage, and climate justice, is to vote as part of a movement for fairness, inclusion, and Te Tiriti-based governance.
Imagine a council where Māori voices are not just heard but respected. Where decisions about water, housing, and public services are made in partnership with iwi. Where frontline workers have the resources they need to serve all their communities with dignity. This is the vision that Māori wards help make possible.
We’ve helped expose the injustice of the repeal and laid the groundwork for a more inclusive future. Now, it’s up to us to carry that momentum forward.
VOTE FOR JUSTICE, VOTE FOR MĀORI WARDS
As you fill out your ballot this September, remember what’s at stake. Māori wards are not just a policy – they are a promise. A promise to honour te Tiriti, to empower communities, and to build a future where everyone has a voice.
Te Rūnanga stands up for that promise. Make your voice be heard and stand with us.
“Kotahi te aho ka whati, ki te kāpuia e kore e whati.”
“One strand of flax is easy to break, but many strands together will stand strong."
