Congratulations, residents of the new Maori Ward Councils — just watch as rates climb, property values fall, and a full cultural bureaucracy moves in. You’ll see more Te Reo road signs, karakia before every meeting, and a few taniwha to appease before any construction begins. And if you’ve got school-age children, check your zoning now — these areas will surely become magnets for ideological schooling and activist curriculum presented under the banner of “inclusion.”
After years of moral lecturing and bureaucratic pressure, voters across New Zealand have finally been asked whether they want Maori -based representation written into local government — and the answer was largely no. In the 2025 referendums, 42 councils put the question to their communities. 25 voted to remove the wards, while 17 voted to keep them — a rejection rate of about 60 percent.
Supporters said the wards would improve representation. Opponents argued that guaranteed seats divided voters by ancestry and undermined equality at the ballot box. The results show that a clear majority of councils prefer to keep one democratic standard for everyone.
Across the country — from Whakatāne and New Plymouth to Rotorua and Hawke’s Bay — ratepayers can now expect a return to open competition for council seats. In the minority of districts that kept the system, the cultural compliance costs will continue to grow. Every new project will need consultation, extra staff, and new paperwork — each step justified as “inclusive.”
Meetings will begin with karakia, the minutes will end with ceremony and invoices will land in mailboxes soon after. As rates rise, investors will look elsewhere and property confidence will weaken.
The flow-on effects won’t stop at council chambers. Zoning changes influence schools, and ideological agendas tend to follow. Parents who value academic basics over activism will think twice before buying in areas where governance and curriculum start to blur.
None of this is a surprise; it’s the logical outcome of treating racial identity as a credential. Democracy relies on one rule for everyone, not a patchwork of privileges. The 2025 referendums reminded the country of that principle — quietly, firmly, and through the ballot box.
Appendix — Factual Data and Council Results
National Summary
- 42 councils held binding referendums on whether to keep or remove the wards or constituencies.
- 25 councils (≈ 60%) voted to remove them.
- 17 councils (≈ 40%) voted to keep them.
- Source: Wikipedia – 2025 New Zealand local referendums on wards and constituencies; NZ Herald Election Results, 11 Oct 2025.
Clarified Totals
- 42 councils held referendums.
- 25 councils voted to remove the wards.
- 17 councils voted to keep them, plus Hastings District Council, which affirmed its ward in August 2024 ahead of the 2025 election.
- That brings the total number of councils continuing with wards in 2025 to 18 — 17 by referendum and 1 by council resolution (Hastings).
Councils That Voted to Keep (17)
1. Rotorua Lakes Council
2. Whakatāne District Council
3. Kawerau District Council
4. Gisborne District Council
5. Ruapehu District Council
6. Whanganui District Council
7. Palmerston North City Council
8. Hutt City Council
9. Kāpiti Coast District Council
10. South Wairarapa District Council
11. Masterton District Council
12. Wellington City Council
13. Porirua City Council
14. Nelson City Council
15. Hamilton City Council
16. Far North District Council
17. Greater Wellington Regional Council
Judy Gill BSc, DipTchg, is a parent, former teacher, and a staunch advocate for secular education.
8 comments:
Point of Difference . The South Island apart from Nelson Tasman area did NOT have a referendum on Maori Wards . It was NOT all NZ.
It will all be reversed as mandatory treaty compliance with the co-governance version after 2026. No exceptions. Of those who voted a majority nationwide, on a pathetic turnout, voted for the wards. The figure was boosted by the high pro-ward vote in bigger centres.
The maori ward votes intriguing. As expected in Whakatane, Kawerau, Northland etc. But I am astonished at response in some areas. I can only assume perhaps those like Nelson well insulated from maori influence, and others where maori relatively low profile the public unaware of the obstruction and interference and fell for the inclusion soft soap.
So far there seems little evidence of concerted maori turnout, although possibly the case in Kaipara. An interesting case and sure to be some fraudulent votes.
Another thoughtful insight with the help of ChatGPT.
I note the 11:15 am reference to Chat GPT. Given there has been barely any information circulated online by the NZ media on the referendum results, I doubt Chat GPT would be capable of producing such analysis.
Robert, you shouldn't be "astonished". Surely given the comparative popularity of the Greens, Labour, TPM, and soon to be added National, there is a contagion of woke stupidity sweeping much of the nation.
Looking over the list of places that kept Maori wards, I can honestly say I wouldn’t want to live in any of them. I suspect it’s just a matter of time before the exodus begins.
Hutt City has several areas where the proportion of Maori voters is high, They would have been strongly motivated to vote. Although the vote would probably have been NO if the non-voters had voted so many of them were apathetic and did not vote that the result is skewed. the result shows motivation beats apathy - you get what you deserve.
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