Māori seats for Auckland Council

Deciding whether to introduce Māori seats for 2025
Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland Council will decide in October 2023 whether to introduce Māori seats for the 2025 local elections.
Māori seats are designated council seats for Māori representatives. They provide a way for Māori to have direct representation on Auckland Council's Governing Body.
Tāmaki Makaurau/ Auckland is home to the largest population of Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Why we are making this decision now
Auckland Council currently has 20 elected general ward councillors (seats) and no Māori seats.
We are the only council in New Zealand with a set number of 20 councillors.
The Governing Body has previously agreed in-principle (agreeing to something in general terms without deciding on the detail) to Māori seats for Auckland Council once the set number of councillors had been removed.
Changes to the existing legislation are currently before Parliament. Learn more about our current governance model.
When the decision will be made
The Governing Body will decide in October 2023 whether or not to introduce Māori seats.
Before they decide, they want to hear from Māori and Auckland's wider public.
Different models for Māori seats
If we decide to introduce Māori seats, we also need to know what your preferred model is. There are two ways to fill possible Māori seats:
- by election
- by appointment.
The parliamentary model
The parliamentary model is possible under existing legislation. This model allows for:
- one or two elected seats
- no appointed seats.
The Royal Commission model
The Royal Commission model requires new legislation. It includes:
- two elected Māori seats
- one Māori seat, appointed by mana whenua (Māori with ancestral authority over a specific area of land).
A different model
Any other model would require further work to develop.
You can find more information on these options in the consultation material under ‘Options for Māori seats’.
What we want your feedback on
We want to know:
- what you think about introducing Māori seats for the 2025 local elections
- what your preferred model is.
For more information, read the Māori seats for Auckland Council consultation document.
How you can have your say
- complete the online feedback form before 24 September
- register for a Have Your Say event to provide verbal feedback
- phone 09 301 0101
- visit your local service centre or library.
When you can have your say
You can have your say from Monday 21 August to Sunday 24 September 2023.
What happens next
We will use your feedback to inform the Governing Body decision in 2025.
This is in time for the 2025 local elections.
Although the 2025 local elections may seem far away, we have a lot of work to do before the next election.
After a decision on Māori seats is made, we will begin a representation review to investigate the representation arrangements for the 2025 local elections.
We have to do a representation review (where we address the total number of Councillors for the region and the way they are elected) every six years.
The next review is in 2024 whether or not Māori seats are introduced. See How we ensure all Aucklanders are represented for more information.