Hamilton voters will soon have their say on the future of Maaori representation in the city.
Hamilton City Council has announced a binding poll will be held alongside this year’s election asking whether Hamilton’s Kirikiriroa Maaori Ward should continue beyond the 2028 election.
The poll is required by central government. Unlike the election – where voters rank candidates – the Maaori ward poll will be a simple tick-box question, the Council says.
All voters can participate in the poll and will be asked to tick either ‘I vote to keep Maaori wards’ or ‘I vote to remove Maaori wards’.
The Kirikiriroa Maaori Ward was established after community engagement in 2021 and includes two citywide seats.
Maaori wards, like Maaori seats in Parliament, were established to provide dedicated representation for Maaori.
Voting in the poll opens on Tuesday 9 September 2025 and closes at midday on Saturday 11 October 2025. The result of the poll will come into effect at the 2028 Hamilton City Council election.
For more information, visit hamilton.govt.nz/poll.
