In 2025 a by-election is being held and voters on the Māori electoral roll can choose a candidate to represent the Te Awanui Māori ward.
By-election
The future of Māori Wards
On 20 October 2026, Council confirmed that the binding poll on the future of Te Awanui Māori Ward will take place on 23 March 2027. Voting will close on this date.
Watch the Council meeting (the discussion starts at 2:25)
To take part in Tauranga’s Māori Ward poll, you must be enrolled to vote by 11 January 2027. Find out how to enrol to vote.
You can enrol to vote in central and local government elections at any time. However, each election has an enrolment deadline, after which the electoral roll is finalised for that election. For example, for the upcoming central government election, the enrolment deadline is 25 October 2026.
Why is there a poll?
In June 2026, Council voted to retain Te Awanui Māori Ward. Under current legislation, this decision triggered a binding poll on the ward’s future, which must be held by 28 March 2027. Most other councils held their polls alongside the 2025 local elections. Tauranga’s poll is taking place in 2027 because Council did not hold a local election in 2025.
Watch the Council meeting (the discussion starts at 3:45)
What happens after the poll?
The poll result will inform Council’s representation review, planned for 2027, and may also be relevant to future representation arrangements developed through the Government’s Simplifying Local Government work programme.
Learn more about Council's representation review
Find out more about Simplifying Local Government
Learn more about Māori wards
Learn more about Council's current wards
Resources
More information for Māori candidates
Check out some frequently asked questions about local government.