A local Aotearoa / New Zealand council has bucked the trend and reversed a decision to exclude Māori wards.
Upper Hutt City, located just north of Wellington, recently voted to establish a new Māori ward ahead of the next 2028 nationwide elections.
Māori constituencies have been special electoral wards across 45 city, district or regional councils in Aotearoa / NZ set aside to ensure Māori voters have dedicated representation on council.
However, 24 of the councils that put the issue to a referendum vote at the 2025 local government elections removed their Māori wards. 18 other councils retained their Māori wards during the vote.
Upper Hutt City was one of just two councils in the country who decided to abolish Māori wards without putting the question to the polls, according to a government consultation report.
At its most recent monthly meeting, seven Upper Hutt City councillors to three voted in favour of reversing its earlier decision.
Based on the City's current Māori roll, the City has eligible residents enough to mandate one Māori ward councillor.
Māori wards are not restricted to candidates of Māori heritage, but only its residents enrolled on the Māori electoral roll can vote for their representation.
The council had previously resolved in November 2023 to establish a Māori ward for each of the 2025 and 2028 elections.
Upper Hutt City had previously been one of 31 New Zealand councils to never hold Māori wards; first established under the Local Electoral Amendment Act 2002.
Following the National Party-led legislative changes in 2024 that required a binding poll, Upper Hutt City rescinded its decision that year and the 2025 council election proceeded under the existing representation arrangements.
Upper Hutt City Mayor Peri Zee said since the 2025 elections, a range of views had been considered, including community feedback.
Council received 340 responses to its recent engagement on Māori wards following 57.6 per cent supporting the establishment of the broader representation measure against 36.8 per cent opposed to a change, while a further 5.6 per cent were neutral or unsure on the matter.
"In my experience in local government, having a Te Ao Māori perspective around the council table strengthens our discussions and contributes to better decision-making to the benefit of the whole community," Ms Zee said.
Parliament, through a recent amendment to the Local Electoral Act 2001, says voters have the statutory right to demand a binding poll on the council's decision.
Under the Act, a valid demand would require - in Upper Hutt City - the support of at least 1,698 eligible electors - five per cent of the 33,960 council voters - to reach the threshold for a poll.
Upper Hutt City council also retained the first-past-the-post system for local government elections in a 6-4 vote.
