HONOUR

TE tiriti

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What’s going on?

Aotearoa New Zealand is a treaty-based nation, and that’s something we can all be proud of.
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But over the last two years in Parliament there has been a continued pattern of undermining our foundation document, the Treaty of Waitangi | Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Te Tiriti is Us began its work in 2024 with campaigns focussing on the positive values of unity, aroha, sharing, fairness, promise keeping and partnership.

We joined with the majority of New Zealanders who were against the Treaty Principles Bill and who voted to keep Māori Wards. This year we need to vote to elect a government which honours the promises made in our founding document.

While we saw off the Treaty Principles Bill, there have been many other instances of this administration continuing to undermine the principles of Te Tiriti, from the Takutai Moana Act to the Regulatory Standards Act to the Education and Training Amendment Act.

‍But it hasn’t always been like this.

‍Since the 1970s governments have taken significant steps to address past wrongs, to apologise and to provide meaningful compensation for treaty breaches.

‍Previous governments worked to put things right, but that’s not happening right now. We’ve been back-sliding, and this has weakened the social cohesion that comes from living in a fair and equitable society. That’s not good for any of us.

‍Even the United Nations has raised concerns about systemic racism and potential breaches of Māori rights from wide-ranging government reforms, cutting services, and disregarding Te Tiriti in policy making. (2025 UN CERD report).

Things need to change.

Honouring Te Tiriti means engaging with Māori as principled treaty partners, committed to fairness, equity and good faith. This is what we New Zealanders expect from our government.

‍2026 is election year. Get ready to vote.

‍Use your power to vote for a government that honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Vote for the people and parties who honour Te Tiriti and who want to see a fair and just New Zealand.

‍Let’s get election ready by making sure we are enrolled and by checking out the policies of all political parties and candidates.‍

Email your MP

Why we all need to vote at local elections

Councils support Māori Ward councillors

Nearly all councils see the important contribution made by Māori Ward councillors.

Most councils do not want these polls. They regard them as an intrusion by central government into local decision-making, as well as being an unwanted cost to ratepayers.

Te Tiriti is Us agrees and believes that the resinstatement of binding polls is a significant step backwards.

We believe that Māori Wards support inclusion and fairness, deliver better council decision-making, and build representative democracy.

No consultation again

The decision to bring back binding polls was made without consultation.

In its WAI3365 report, the Waitangi Tribunal found that reinstating polls goes against the Treaty of Waitangi principles of partnership, active protection, good faith, equity, mutual benefit and options.

The Waitangi Tribunal concluded that the Crown has given precedence to its coalition commitments over its Treaty responsibilities.

Everyone can vote

We strongly urge everyone to get out and vote in their local elections, and to:

Keep the Māori Ward on your local council
Keep Māori Constituencies on your regional council

Voting takes three easy steps!
When your voting papers arrive in the post (the envelope with the orange guy on it!):

Open the envelope - don't throw it in the bin!
Vote to Keep Māori Wards
Post back your voting papers in the prepaid envelope supplied.

"...fostering robust relationships with iwi Māori empowers us to achieve outcomes that benefit the broader community and environment beyond what we could achieve independently." - David J Trewavas, Mayor, Taupō District Council.

What are the Treaty Principles?

These core principles have been recognised by the courts, in legislation, and in Waitangi Tribunal reports over the past 50 years:

Active protection

Article 2 of the treaty guarantees Māori can organise as iwi and manage their own resources within our government framework. Safeguarding a resource base, realising Māori aspirations, and actively protecting taonga are part of recognising tino rangatiratanga.

Equity

This requires the Crown to commit to achieving equitable outcomes for Māori, for example in health, education and employment. All New Zealanders are equal under the law, free from discrimination. Equity differs from equality. Equity is when everyone can benefit equally from living in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Mutual benefit

Tangata Whenua and Tangata Tiriti signed the Treaty/te Tiriti both expecting to benefit from the arrangement. Mutual benefit requires the needs of both partners to be met, and the rights and values of both to be honoured. Getting this balance right may involve some compromises.

Participation and options

The Crown accepted a duty to provide Māori with viable options to participate in ways that are appropriate for their needs and circumstances, along with access to mainstream services. For example social housing on a papakāinga model where a group of houses on whenua Māori work as a community under tikanga Māori (Māori way of doing things).

Partnership

The Treaty/te Tiriti is a contract between the Crown and rangatira Māori. Both have a duty to act fairly, reasonably, honourably and in good faith towards one another, and to cooperate on major issues of common concern.

Redress

The Crown has provided a process for the resolution of grievances. Where the Treaty principles have been broken, the Crown must recognise and make amends for the wrongdoing. This might mean an apology, or compensation, or the return of land or resources.

Māori Wards are under threat

Vote in your local body elections this year to Keep Māori Wards

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are we having binding polls on Māori wards?
It's a law change made under the coalition deal (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies Amendment Act 2024). Under this new legislation, voters in areas where there are existing Māori wards and constituencies will vote to decide whether to keep or remove them.

So how many councils need to have these polls?
42 city, district and regional councils. The list is here
https://www.votelocal.co.nz/maori-wards-and-constituencies/
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Do councils want these binding polls?
The great majority of councils with Māori wards see the benefits and want to keep them. Many councils made submissions against the amendment bill. Plus, they don't want the cost burden of these polls. According to the Waipā District Council Major Susan O'Regan a poll is estimated to cost $50,000.
Councils are in a bit of a bind. They must uphold the governing principles and responsibilities of the Crown - including to Te Tiriti o Waitangi - as it appears in local government legislation, including the Local Government Act 2002.

But they also have to abide by the Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2025 and hold these binding principles.

Are there other kinds of council wards that represent particular communities?
Yes, some councils have rural wards. For example, Taupō East Rural Ward was established in 2019 to ensure rural representatives on Taupō District Council. Prior to this it was very difficult for a rural candidate to be elected with the high population of Taupō town voters. The Taupō East Rural councillor provides a rural perspective about council services and the needs of the country people.
Note: Taupō District Council also introduced the Te Papamārearea Māori ward in 2022 to improve Māori representation on their council.

‍Does this mean that we have to vote to keep or remove rural wards too?
No, rural wards can continue as usual.

What is the difference between a ward and constituency?
A ward is the name for an electoral area in a city or a district council. A constituency is the same thing but for a regional council. They are like electorates in the general election. This year we vote to keep or remove both Māori wards and Māori constituencies.
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Are Māori wards and constituencies consistent with the principle of one person, one vote?
Yes, there's a statutory formula for determining the number of Māori ward/constituency seats. The total number of councillor positions available is based on the proportion of those on the Māori roll compared to the general roll, per council area. This ensures that a vote in a Māori ward has broadly the same weight as a vote in any other ward. (This answer comes from the Local Elections NZ website.)‍‍‍

Do Māori get an extra vote?
No. For local councillors, people on the Māori roll vote for candidates in their Māori ward and those on the general roll vote for candidates in their general ward.

Does anyone get extra votes?
Yes, people with property in another Council's authority, for example a holiday home or a rental property, can vote where they live AND where their other property is.

Do you only get to vote to keep or remove local Māori wards if you are of Māori decent?
No. Everyone can vote to keep or remove the Māori wards in this election, no matter what roll you are on.

Is this about Māori wardens?
No, this is about Māori wards in local councils and Māori constituencies in regional councils. For example, the Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori ward in Wellington. Māori wardens are completely different; they are wonderful community volunteers. In good news, funding for Māori wardens has actually increased this year!

What's the back story Māori wards on councils?
Māori have historically been under-represented in local government. Māori participation was hampered by the Local Electoral Act 2001, which required a binding local poll to be held if a council decided to establish a Māori ward or constituency. This condition was removed in 2021. Since then, Māori representation in local government has increased from just three councils with Māori wards or constituencies to 34, plus seven regional councils.

Why isn't the Canterbury Regional Council having a poll to keep or remove its Māori councillors?
In fulfilment of its treaty settlement Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu can appoint two members to the Environment Canterbury Council with full decision-making powers. This is written in law so cannot be voted against Canterbury Regional Council (Ngāi Tahu Representation) Act 2022.

Why isn't Auckland having a poll?
Auckland Council has never resolved to have Māori wards. Auckland has an appointed independent statutory board Houkoura, https://houkura.nz/ whose mission is to advance the interests of Māori in Tāmaki Makaurau by helping Auckland Council to make decisions, perform functions and exercise powers that improve outcomes for Māori.
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Are there councils with Māori wards that don't have to hold binding polls?
There are only four: The Bay of Plenty Regional Council has its own local legislation that enables a Māori constituency.
Ōpotiki District Council, Waikato Regional Council and Wairoa District Council have all previously had polls and the voters chose to keep their Māori wards.

Useful websites for more information
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Local government New Zealand Ko Tātou
Great site for learning more about Councils and voting in this year’s local body elections. For local councillors, people on the Māori roll vote for candidates in their Māori ward and those on the general roll vote for candidates in their general ward.

Vote NZ
‍Information from the electoral commission about enrolling and voting.

Vote Local
All about local government from Vote 2025.

Vote Local - Māori wards
All about Māori Wards and Constituencies from Vote 2025.

Common Grace
‍A Christian faith-based perspective on the importance of voting to keep Māori Wards.

Decide Together, Thrive Together
A very comprehensive site from Action Station, focussing on the importance of Māori Wards.

We All
We All Aotearoa has published a local government resource guide called Policy for the Public Good. Available to download from their website.
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