​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Alert

Consultation open on new Community Hub, Library & Civic Space location

Elma Turner Library and Civic House are near the end of their useful lives. If we don't act now, Nelson risks losing spaces our community depends on. This is not just a problem to fix. It is a chance to build something better. Help us understand which option works best for our community.

Contact

Search

Māori Ward & Poll

In 2024, under legislation passed by the coalition government, Nelson City Council had to decide whether to retain its Māori ward for the 2025 election and Council term, or whether to remove it.

The Council decided to retain the ward – more information on the decision made can be found at the following links:

Choosing to retain its Māori Ward means that Council must now hold a poll alongside the 2025 local election, asking Nelson voters whether they want to keep or remove the Māori Ward. The results of the poll will be binding on Council and will apply for the 2028 and 2031 elections (and associated Council terms).

When you receive your voting pack in September this year (for most people this will arrive in your mailbox), it will also contain information about the poll and a section of the voting paper where you can indicate whether you want the Nelson City Council Māori Ward kept or removed.

You can also watch the short video below, where Council’s Deputy Electoral Officer, Devorah Nícuarta-Smith, explains everything you need to know about the Māori Ward poll in Nelson’s upcoming local election.

So, what is a Māori Ward?

Māori wards in Local Government are the equivalent of Māori electorates, or seats, in Central Government. Their purpose is to provide specific democratic representation for Māori who otherwise may not have a voice in government.

Māori wards exist alongside general wards, covering the same geographic areas. Nelson City currently has one Māori Ward, the boundaries of which cover the full electoral boundary of Nelson.

Who can vote in a Māori Ward?

Only those on the Māori electoral roll can vote for candidates standing in Māori wards or constituencies.

Similarly, those on the general roll can only vote for candidates standing in general wards.

I am enrolled on the Māori roll, what can I vote for?

People on the Māori roll will be able to vote for the Mayor, one Māori ward councillor and three “at large” councillors.

Do Māori wards mean Māori get more votes?

Māori Wards are consistent with the principle of one person, one vote. Voters in Māori wards receive the same number of votes as those in general wards.

In fact, there’s a statutory formula for determining the number of Māori ward seats. It is based on the total number of councillor positions available (other than the Mayor), and the proportion of those on the Māori roll compared to the general roll, per council area. 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.

Who can stand as a candidate for a Māori Ward?

Any eligible person can stand in either Māori or general wards.

Candidates do not need to be of Māori descent or on the Māori electoral roll to stand in a Māori ward.

They do need to be:

  • New Zealand citizens,
  • Enrolled on the New Zealand parliamentary roll, and
  • Nominated by two people enrolled in the ward they are standing in.

When will Council action the poll result to either keep the Māori ward or remove it?

Although the decision will be made in 2025 from the poll result, it will be three years before it is actioned.

If the poll result favours keeping the Māori ward, there will be an electoral contest for this Ward at the local elections in 2028 and 2031.

On the other hand, if the poll result favours removing the Māori ward, there will not be an electoral contest for the Ward in 2028 or 2031.

The results of the poll will be reflected as part of the representation review Nelson City Council must complete in 2027.

Further information

In 2021 the Government of the time removed mandatory binding community polls on the establishment of a Māori Ward. Councils were able to decide whether they wanted to establish a Māori Ward under the transitional provisions of that legislation.

The agenda, minutes and video recording of the meeting where the Nelson City Council of the time considered whether to establish a Māori ward under those local electoral legislation changes can be accessed via the following links:

Agenda: http://meetings.nelson.govt.nz/Open/2021/05/CL_20210511_AGN_3410_AT.PDF (report starts pg 216)

Minutes: http://meetings.nelson.govt.nz/Open/2021/05/CL_20210511_MIN_3410.PDF (see pg 10)

Video recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt35Z9HyA2g (from start)

Share this page

Sharing...