Māori Ward

In May 2021 the Council resolved to establish a Māori Ward in the Manawatū District for electoral purposes; the Ward was subsequently named Ngā Tapuae o Mātangi Māori Ward. In 2022 Cr Bridget Bell was elected to be the inaugural Councillor of Ngā Tapuae o Matangi Māori Ward.

Ngā Tapuae o Mātangi (the footsteps of Mātangi) acknowledges Mātangi, an early explorer who journeyed from the Wairarapa, crossing over the ranges into the Manawatū and neighbouring district. He left an indelible footprint on the land through the naming of places such as Hīmatangi; names that recorded his actions, or things that he saw or experienced.

The name Ngā Tapuae o Matangi speaks not only of the district as a whole but also of the areas occupied by whānau, hapū and iwi. The footprints of Mātangi acknowledges the connected nature of the district and the people of the district.

Voters must be enrolled on the Māori Electoral Roll to be able to vote for their choice of candidate at the next Local Elections in October 2025.

See Elections for further details about enrolling to vote, and Māori Wards.