General and Māori Wards

What are Wards?

• Ward(s) are a pre-defined geographic area(s) within a district identified for electoral purposes. They have been determined by population and communities of interest.
• Plains General Ward covers the general Plains area north of Netherton to north of Waharau with four elected Councillors.
• Paeroa General Ward covers the general Paeroa urban and rural areas from Netherton to Karangahake with three elected Councillors.
• Waihi General Ward covers the general Waihi area from Waikino to Parakiwai with four elected Councillors.
• Te Pakikau o te Ika Māori Ward covers the whole district with two elected Councillors.
• Hauraki District will have 13 Councillors (including the two new Te Pakikau o te Ika Māori Ward Councillors) plus the Mayor for the 2025 LGE.

Who can stand in the Te Pakikau o te Ika Māori Ward?

• To be eligible to stand for election, a candidate must be:
• A New Zealand citizen (by birth or citizenship ceremony).
• Enrolled as a Parliamentary elector anywhere in New Zealand.
• Nominated by TWO electors whose names appear on the electoral roll for Te Pakikau o te Ika Māori Ward.
• Candidates do not need to be of Māori descent.
• Candidates cannot stand for Te Pakikau o te Ika Māori Ward and a General Ward at the same time.

Can a candidate who doesn’t live in the Ward stand for that Ward?

• Yes, but they must declare in their profile provided to voters if the Ward is their primary residence or not.
• Yes, but they must be nominated by two electors who do live in the Ward where they are standing for election.
• The candidate or their spouse/partner must not have concerns or interests in contracts over $25,000 with the Council.
• If the candidate is subject to a Court Order under section 31 of the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988, they should take legal advice.
• If the candidate is an employee of Council, they must resign before taking up their position as an elected member. The rules of some Councils may require them to take leave for campaigning prior to the election.

Who can vote in the Te Pakikau o te Ika Māori Ward?

• People enrolled on the Māori Electoral Roll for the Hauraki District can vote for candidates standing for the Te Pakikau o te Ika Māori Ward.
• People on the general electoral roll for the Hauraki District cannot vote for candidates standing for the Te Pakikau o te Ika Māori Ward.
• People on the Māori Electoral Roll for the Hauraki District cannot vote for candidates standing for any of the general Wards.
• If you are Māori, you are able to move to or from the Māori Electoral Roll (- Māori Electoral Option) up until three months before a general election.

Are these statements true?

• People on the Māori Roll can only vote for candidates standing for the Te Pakikau o te Ika Māori Ward.
• Only voters listed on the same general electoral roll for a given general Ward can cast votes for candidates running in that particular general Ward.
• People on the General and Māori rolls can vote for the Mayor of the Hauraki District.
• If you live outside of Hauraki District but own property within the District and pay rates for that property you may qualify to vote as a non-resident ratepayer.

When will nominations for the 2025 local government elections open and close?

• Nominations for Councillor and/or Mayor open Friday 04 July 2025.
• Nominations for Councillor and/or Mayor close 12 Noon, Friday 01 August 2025.
• It costs $200 to lodge a nomination for each position standing – to be paid before 12 Noon, Friday 01 August 2025. You need to bring a form of identification e.g. drivers licence or passport, and a passport size photo for the candidate profile booklet.
• Public notice of candidates’ name and day of election is Friday 08 August 2025.
• Delivery (by post) of voting documents (includes Māori Ward poll form) begins Tuesday 09 September 2025 through to Monday 22 September 2025.
• Final day for casting votes is 12 Noon Saturday 11 October 2025. If you are posting voting papers make sure they will arrive at the Electoral Office before 12 Noon Saturday 11 October 2025.
• Declaration of votes no later than Saturday 18 October 2025.