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.
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Background
editThe 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
editNotes
edit- ^ Exact wording will vary
References
edit- ^ "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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