Tauranga voters will decide the future of Te Awanui Māori Ward in a binding poll on 23 March 2027, following a Council decision this week to confirm the poll date.
The poll will ask voters whether Te Awanui Māori Ward should be retained or removed for future Tauranga City Council elections.
Council’s June 2026 decision to retain the Māori ward triggered a binding poll under current legislation, which must be held by 28 March 2027.
While most councils held Māori ward polls alongside the 2025 local elections, Tauranga’s poll will take place in 2027 because the city did not hold a local election in 2025.
To take part in the poll, eligible voters must be enrolled by 11 January 2027. While people can enrol to vote at any time, each election or poll has its own enrolment deadline. For example, the enrolment deadline for the 2026 General Election is 25 October 2026.
The poll result will inform Council’s representation review in 2027 and may also be relevant to future representation arrangements developed through the Government’s Simplifying Local Government work programme.
More information about the poll and Māori wards is available at tauranga.govt.nz/maori-ward-poll.