Māori wards create areas where only those on the Māori Parliamentary electoral roll vote for the candidates in that ward/constituency.

The Māori wards and constituencies sit alongside the general wards of each city, district, or regional council.

Only people on the Māori electoral roll can vote for candidates standing for a Māori ward and constituency. Similarly, only those on the general electoral roll can vote for those candidates standing for a general ward/constituency.

The principles of partnership, participation and protection underpin the relationship between Council and Māori under the Local Government Act 2002 and Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi):

• Partnership involves working together with iwi, hapū, whānau and Māori communities to develop strategies and structure for Māori involvement in decision-making.
• Participation requires Māori to be involved at all levels of the local government sector, including decision-making, planning, development and delivery of services.
• Protection involves the Council working to ensure Māori involvement in decision-making processes, and safeguarding Māori cultural concepts, values and practices.

Having a Māori ward is one way to support this relationship. However, it is not the only way, and we continue to promote partnership with Māori through governance committees, our Iwi Relationship Manager and Advisor, and by providing an environment (through systems, structures, and services) that encourages and supports Māori participation in local governance processes.

The Māori population in our district is 18.57% (based on the 2023 Census), and therefore it is more difficult for a Māori Councillor to be voted in based on numbers alone.

Local government, including MPDC, is legally obliged to provide an environment (through systems, structures, and services) that encourages and supports Māori to enter and participate in local governance processes. Having a Māori ward is one way to do this.

The decision to establish a Māori ward in Matamata-Piako, was made in 2021. Council took guidance from Te Manawhenua Forum mō Matamata-Piako (the standing committee of Council who facilitate tangata whenua contribution to decision making), who unanimously supported establishing Māori wards. Mana whenua advocated for Council to make this decision, saying that it would make local decision-making fairer and more inclusive.

No, those on the Māori roll do not receive any more or less rights than those on the general roll. The roll you choose just affects who you can vote for, for example, if you choose the Māori roll then you will vote for candidates in the Māori ward. If you choose the general roll, you will vote for candidates in the general wards (Matamata, Morrinsville, or Te Aroha).

In July 2024, central government updated legislation mandating changes. MPDC had two options:

1. Disestablish the Māori ward and complete a shortened representation review by Christmas 2024 (there would be no Māori ward for the 2025 local elections).

2. Hold a binding poll alongside the 2025 election with the outcome to come into effect for the 2028 election (there would still be a Māori ward for the 2025 local elections).

The decision was made unanimously to retain the Māori ward and hold a binding poll alongside the 2025 local government elections. The outcome of the poll will be effective for the 2028 and 2031 elections, with Council undertaking a full representation review by 2027/28 as planned. You can read more about it here.

Council made their decision (option 2) at the Council meeting on Wednesday, 28 August 2024. You can watch a livestream of the meeting here.

Yes, on 11 June and 6 August 2024 the options were discussed with Te Manawhenua Forum, which is a standing committee of Council who formally represent Māori within the district. The Forum includes representatives from Council, Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Rāhiri-Tumutumu, Raukawa, Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Whanaunga, Ngāti Pāoa and Ngāti Hinerangi. The livestream of this discussion at Te Manawhenua Forum on 6 August 2024 can be viewed here.

The topic was also discussed in a Council workshop on 31 July 2024, where Māori ward Gary Thompson, Te Toa Horopū ā Matamata-Piako Councillor, was present.

Your two poll options will be:

• I vote to keep the Māori ward.
• I vote to remove the Māori ward.

Now is the time to ask any questions you have around this. If you can't see the answers here, then get in touch with us. We want everyone to feel informed going into the poll.

No, when the Māori ward was put in place, it followed the legislation of the time. However, with the new coalition government came new legislation. The current government wants the community to make the decision about whether they want a Māori ward or not.

This government has reinstated Māori ward poll provisions that were removed from legislation in 2022. Polls at the 2025 local elections are a compulsory step for councils that established Māori wards or constituencies after 2020 without the poll provisions in place (including Matamata-Piako District Council).

No. Everyone enrolled to vote will get to take part in the binding poll alongside the 2025 local election.

The Māori ward Councillor has the same level of power as any other Councillor, no more no less. Each Councillor has one vote.

Currently at MPDC, there is one Mayor, four Matamata ward Councillors, four Morrinsville ward Councillors, three Te Aroha ward Councillors, and one Māori ward Councillor. Therefore, the current Māori ward Councillor has a one in thirteen say when it comes to decision-making, like every other elected member.

The majority vote of the poll will decide the future of Māori wards for your council. 

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 removing Māori wards, there will not be an electoral contest for them in 2028. If the poll result favours keeping Māori wards there will be an electoral contest for them at the local elections in 2028 and 2031. 

The highest polling candidate in this year’s Māori ward election will hold office until October 2028. If the poll result favours removing Māori wards, there will not be an electoral contest for the Māori ward position in 2028 or 2031. If the poll result favours keeping Māori wards there will be an electoral contest for the Māori ward position in 2028 and 2031, and they will be separately advertised at those times.

If you intend standing for a Māori ward, and want to talk to your the Electoral Officer about poll outcome scenarios, the Electoral Officer for Matamata-Piako District Council is Warwick Lampp, and you can contact him on 0800 666 048 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view 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 results favour removing Māori wards, there will not be an electoral contest for them in 2028. Conversely, if the poll results favour keeping Māori wards there will be an electoral contest for them at the local elections in 2028 and 2031.

Yes, because we had a Māori ward in place already, we will continue to have one for the 2025-2028 period. Following that, it will depend on the outcome of the binding poll at the 2025 election.

Māori wards and constituencies guarantee Māori representation on a local authority and contribute to Māori participation in council decision-making as required under the Local Government Act 2002.

Local government, including Matamata-Piako District Council, is legally obliged to provide an environment (through systems, structures, and services) that encourages and supports Māori to enter and participate in local governance processes. Having a Māori ward is one way to do this.

However, it is not the only way and we continue to promote partnership with Māori through governance committees, our Iwi Relationship Manager and Advisor, and providing an environment (through systems, structures, and services) that encourages and supports Māori to enter and participate in local governance processes.

Yes. Voters in Māori wards and constituencies receive the same number of votes as those in general wards. In fact, there is a statutory formula for determining the number of Māori ward/constituency 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.

No, Māori wardens are volunteers who provide support services throughout New Zealand, like security, crowd control, and first aid. This is a separate role to being a Māori ward Councillor, which is about representing the community within Local Government.