Rohe Pōti Māori | Māori Constituency

Ngā Taipitopito mō Te Rohe Pōti Māori ki Te Pane Matua Taiao mō ngā pōti ā-rohe 2025 ka tū i ia toru tau | Information on Greater Wellington’s Māori constituency for the 2025 triennial local elections

Council has resolved to establish a Māori constituency, effective from the 2025 triennial local elections. This page provides information about the Māori constituency, and how to enrol, stand for and vote in the Māori constituency election.

He aha rā te Rohe Pōti Māori? | What is a Māori Constituency?

A Māori constituency is an electoral area for a regional council election.

A Māori constituency provides for dedicated Māori representation on Council. The Council is the local authority’s governing body.

Te Rohe Pōti Māori o Te Upoko o te ika a Māui | Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui Māori Constituency

In October 2023 the Council, on the recommendation of Te Tiriti o Waitangi Komiti, resolved to establish a Māori constituency from the 2025 triennial local elections. This resolution was affirmed by Council in August 2024.

The Māori constituency, named Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui Māori Constituency, will be represented by one member on the Council.

The constituency’s name utilises the te reo Māori description for the general area of the Wellington Region.

Reports considered by Te Tiriti o Waitangi Komiti and Council on the establishment and affirmation of the Māori constituency

Te Tiriti o Waitangi Komiti meeting 10 October 2023

Council meeting 26 October 2023 - agenda item 11

Te Tiriti o Waitangi Komiti meeting 15 August 2024

Council meeting 27 August 2024 - agenda item 8

Me pēhea au e uru atu kia pōti ai ki te Rohe Pōti Māori o Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui | How do I enrol to vote in the election for Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui Māori Constituency?

You can enrol to vote, or check and update your enrolment information, with the Electoral Commission.

As an enrolled parliamentary elector you will automatically be enrolled in the relevant local elections and polls held in the area for which you are enrolled as a parliamentary elector.

To be eligible to vote in the election for Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui Māori Constituency you will need to be on the parliamentary Māori Electoral Roll.

If you are already enrolled as a Māori elector on the parliamentary General Electoral Roll you will need to change to the parliamentary Māori Electoral Roll by 11 July 2025 if you wish to be an elector in the election for Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui Māori Constituency.

For information on the Māori Electoral Option and to change your roll registration please contact the Electoral Commission.

Mā wai e tū ki ngā pōtitanga o te Rohe Pōti Māori o Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui? | Who can stand in the in the election for Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui Māori Constituency?

You can be a candidate in the election for Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui Māori Constituency if you meet all of the following criteria:

• You are a New Zealand citizen
• You are enrolled as a Parliamentary elector anywhere in New Zealand
• You are nominated by two electors whose names appear on the Electoral Roll for Te Upoko o te Ika a Māuri Māori Constituency

A candidate for Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui Māori Constituency does not need to be of Māori descent.

You cannot stand for election to Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui Māori Constituency if you are standing, at the 2025 triennial local elections, as a candidate for election to one of Greater Wellington’s general constituencies or standing for any city or district election in the Wellington Region.

Mā wai ngā kaitono e pōti ki te Rohe Pōti Māori o Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui? | Who can vote for candidates standing in the Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui Māori Constituency?

Māori on the Electoral Roll for the Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui Māori Constituency (being the entire area of the Wellington Region) will be able to vote for the candidates standing in the election for Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui Māori Constituency.

He Māori anake te hunga hei whakakanohi mā te toa kaitono i te Rohe Pōti Māori o Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui? | Does the member elected by the Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui Māori Constituency only represent Māori?

The Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui Māori Constituency elected member represents that constituency at the Council table. In common with all Councillors, they also have governance responsibilities to act in the best interests of the Wellington Region.

He aha hoki te take e tū ai tētahi pōti mō te anamata o te rohe pōti Māori? | Why is a poll on the future of the Māori constituency also being held?

As Council has affirmed its resolution to establish a Māori constituency from the 2025 elections, recent legislation – Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2024 – requires the Council’s Electoral Officer to conduct a poll, at the time of the 2025 triennial local elections, to determine the future of the Māori constituency from the 2028 triennial local elections. If the poll result is in favour of continuing the Māori constituency it will remain in place for the 2028 and subsequent triennial local elections. If the poll result is against continuing the Māori constituency, the constituency will not be in place for the 2028 and 2031 triennial local elections; however, the Council could consider establishing a new Māori constituency for the 2034 and subsequent triennial local elections.

All electors in the Wellington Region will have the opportunity to vote in the Māori constituency poll.

Māhea au e whai mōhio ake mō ngā pōti 2025 ki Te Pane Matua Taiao | How do I find out more about Greater Wellington’s 2025 elections?

Please visit our election pages.

From early 2025 we will have a specific site for Greater Wellington’s 2025 elections – keep a watch out for it. In the meantime, if you have any queries please contact us at elections@gw.govt.nz

For more information on councils that have established Māori wards and constituencies, and for other information relating to the 2025 local elections visit Vote Local.