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Local Electoral Act 2001

Representation arrangements for elections of territorial authorities, regional councils, local boards, and community boards - Māori wards and Māori constituencies

19Z: Territorial authority or regional council may resolve to establish Māori wards or Māori constituencies

You could also call this:

"Councils can decide to create Māori wards or areas for election purposes"

Illustration for Local Electoral Act 2001

You can divide a district into one or more Māori wards for electoral purposes. You can also divide a region into one or more Māori constituencies for electoral purposes. A territorial authority or regional council can make this decision. You make this decision by resolving to do so. When you make this resolution, it takes effect for the next election or the one after that. It depends on when you make the resolution. This rule does not apply if another law says you must have Māori wards or constituencies. It is also subject to certain clauses in Schedule 1A, such as clauses 2(5) and 4(4). An associated election means an election to fill a vacancy or an election under section 258I or 258M of the Local Government Act 2002.

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This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM93915.

Topics:
Government and voting > Local councilsGovernment and voting > ElectionsMāori affairs > Māori land
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Part 1ARepresentation arrangements for elections of territorial authorities, regional councils, local boards, and community boards
Māori wards and Māori constituencies

19ZTerritorial authority or regional council may resolve to establish Māori wards or Māori constituencies

  1. Any territorial authority may resolve that the district be divided into 1 or more Māori wards for electoral purposes.

  2. Any regional council may resolve that the region be divided into 1 or more Māori constituencies for electoral purposes.

  3. A resolution under this section,—

  4. if made after a triennial general election but no later than 23 November of the year that is 2 years before the next triennial general election, takes effect, subject to paragraph (c), for the purposes of the next triennial general election of the territorial authority or regional council; and
    1. in any other case, takes effect, subject to paragraph (c), for the purposes of the next but one triennial general election; and
      1. in either case, takes effect for 2 triennial general elections of the territorial authority or regional council, and for any associated election, and continues in effect after that until a further resolution under this section takes effect.

        1. This section—

        2. is subject to clauses 2(5) and 4(4) of Schedule 1A; and
          1. does not apply in relation to a territorial authority or regional council if another enactment requires,—
            1. in the case of a territorial authority, that the district be divided into 1 or more Māori wards; or
              1. in the case of a regional council, that the region be divided into 1 or more Māori constituencies.

              2. In this section, associated election, in relation to any 2 successive triennial general elections of a territorial authority or regional council, means—

              3. any election to fill an extraordinary vacancy in the membership of the body concerned that is held—
                1. between those elections; or
                  1. after the second of those elections but before the subsequent triennial general election:
                  2. an election of the members of the body concerned under section 258I or 258M of the Local Government Act 2002 that is held—
                    1. between those elections; or
                      1. after the second of those elections but before the subsequent triennial general election.

                      Notes
                      • Section 19Z: inserted, on , by section 6 of the Local Electoral Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 85).
                      • Section 19Z(3)(c): replaced, on , by section 6(1) of the Local Electoral (Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 3).
                      • Section 19Z(4): replaced, on , by section 6(2) of the Local Electoral (Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 3).
                      • Section 19Z(5): amended, on , by section 6(3) of the Local Electoral (Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 3).
                      • Section 19Z(5)(b): amended, on , by section 43 of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 93).