It was all toots and waves in Whāingaroa as locals showed their support for the ‘Vote Māori Wards’ campaign.
Led by the Toitū te Tiriti Whāingaroa Raglan team, the campaign is encouraging voters to back Māori wards in the upcoming local body elections. Alongside voting for council representatives, residents will face a binding poll asking whether to retain or abolish Māori wards in the Waikato District.
The poll follows the coalition government’s Local Government (Māori Wards) Amendment Bill, pushed through by ACT and NZ First. The law requires councils that established Māori wards without first polling residents to now hold one – or scrap them.
Raglan local Tony Mayow has taken to the streets with lively campaigns sparking kōrero, raising awareness – and drawing in plenty of volunteers.
“More Pākehā are starting to ask, ‘what’s really going on here?’,” Tony says. “That’s an opportunity for kōrero. The only real hesitation I hear is from people who say they don’t know much about it – so that’s where we can step in.”
Waikato District Council established Māori wards in 2022 after its 2021 Representation Review, following earlier law changes that removed the need for binding polls. Māori ward councillors represent their communities, bringing forward Māori perspectives, while also serving the district as a whole.
Tony believes the government is relying on voter apathy, particularly given turnout at local body elections has steadily declined over the past 30 years.
“The government is basically saying Māori are the problem. In reality, government policy is the problem. Māori wards, Māori participation and the treaty are the answer. It’s time for tauiwi Pākehā to step up. If you believe in the treaty, participation and justice – it’s a no-brainer.”
He describes this election as a watershed moment. “The attack on Māori wards is part of a broader campaign to roll back the treaty, environmental protection and climate action, all issues close to Whāingaroa hearts. Decisive support for the wards sends a strong message that their divisive attacks are not acceptable,” he says.
“This government rides roughshod over democracy whenever it wants. We’ve already gone through a proper democratic process to establish Māori wards. Because they didn’t like the outcome, they’ve imposed this referendum.”
Anyone seeking more information or wanting to support the campaign can join the Toitū te Tiriti Whāingaroa Facebook page.
Although the decision will be made in 2025, it will be three years before it is actioned. If the poll result favours abolishing Māori wards, there will not be an electoral contest for them in 2028. If the poll favours keeping Māori wards, elections for Māori ward councillors will go ahead in 2028 and 2031.
