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2025 New Zealand local referendums on Māori wards and constituencies
Referendums will be held in; 37 local councils and 5 regional councils
Should the local council have Māori wards/constituencies?
	Referendums status

The 2025 New Zealand local referendums on Māori wards and constituencies are upcoming referendums to be held on 11 October 2025 alongside that year's local elections, on the question of whether to have dedicated Māori wards and constituencies on local councils.

Background

The referendums were spurred by the ruling National-led coalition government's passing of the Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2024, reinstating the requirement that councils must hold referendums before establishing Māori wards that the previous Labour government had removed. Councils that had introduced Māori wards without holding a referendum were required to hold a poll at the 2025 elections if they wished to keep them.^[1]

Only two of the 45 councils with current or proposed Māori wards voted against holding a poll to determine their future. Several councils said they wanted to look into legal advice with regards to ignoring the government's requirement to hold polls.^[2]

Tauranga City Council is not holding a referendum because they already held local elections recently in 2024.^[3]

Results

Results (TBD)
Council	Yes votes	%	No votes	%	Invalid/Blank	%	Turnout	%
Territorial authorities
Far North District Council
Whangarei District Council
Hauraki District Council
Thames-Coromandel District Council
Matamata-Piako District Council
Waikato District Council
Hamilton City Council
Waipa District Council
Ōtorohanga District Council
Western Bay of Plenty District Council
Whakatane District Council
Kawerau District Council
Rotorua Lakes District Council
Taupo District Council
Gisborne District Council
Hastings District Council
Napier City Council
Central Hawke's Bay District Council
Tararua District Council
Rangitikei District Council
Ruapehu District Council
Whanganui District Council
Manawatu District Council
Palmerston North City Council
New Plymouth District Council
Stratford District Council
South Taranaki District Council
Horowhenua District Council
Kapiti Coast District Council
Porirua City Council
Hutt City Council
Wellington City Council
Masterton District Council
South Wairarapa District Council
Nelson City Council
Tasman District Council
Marlborough District Council
Regional councils
Northland Regional Council
Hawke's Bay Regional Council
Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council
Taranaki Regional Council
Greater Wellington Regional Council
Totals

Notes

^ Exact wording will vary

References

^ "What you need to know about Māori wards". Radio New Zealand. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
^ McConnell, Glenn (9 September 2024). "Councils vs Government in battle over Māori wards". Stuff. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
^ "About Māori wards and constituencies". Vote Local. 2024.

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[1] Exact wording will vary

[2] "What you need to know about Māori wards". Radio New Zealand. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 27 October 2024.

[3] McConnell, Glenn (9 September 2024). "Councils vs Government in battle over Māori wards". Stuff. Retrieved 27 October 2024.

[4] "About Māori wards and constituencies". Vote Local. 2024.

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