The results have not gone our way but the direction of travel has. Although Napier, Hastings and Central Hawke’s Bay have voted to remove their Māori wards from 2028, campaigners say attitudes in the region have shifted thanks to many positive conversations about why Māori wards work brilliantly and mean better decisions for all.

We’ve had months of great conversations around the region and, despite these results, Hawke’s Bay is much further along the road towards being a fairer community with more inclusive councils.

Māori wards were always going to be a big leap for towns like Napier for example, which has elected only 3 Māori councillors in 150 years. The great news is that Napier has for the first time elected two Māori ward councillors - Shyann Raihania and Whare Isaac Sharland - two impressive wahine, either of which could be Napier’s first Māori mayor in a few years’ time.

We have voted in our thousands with Big Aroha for Māori Wards because we believe our region is stronger together with all our voices at the table.

“There have been thousands of conversations across Hawke’s Bay about what having Māori ward councillors at our council tables brings to decision making,” said For Wards Hawke’s Bay member Mark Cleary.

“Our mayors, councillors and community leaders have shared their personal, often powerful stories of how bringing the voices of Māori into the decision making process has enriched all our lives.

“We’ll keep having those conversations and have no doubt our community will come on the journey with us.”

For Wards HB co-ordinator Neill Gordon says “we are stronger as a community for having had these conversations and despite these results know that there has been a profound shift in the region towards a more equitable community.”

“The regional korero has shifted us irrevocably towards a better Hawke’s Bay. There will always be steps forward and steps back but the trajectory is clear. We are steadily moving towards understanding our past and building a better future. With the 200th centenary of the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi just 15 years away, it’s good to be on the journey together.”

For Wards member Ani Tylee said modern Aotearoa was not just unafraid of hearing Māori voices but believed the input of the tangata whenua enriches and uplifts us all.

“Our councils are stronger for having had Māori ward councillors elected, in Napier’s case for the first time.”

For Wards member and retiring Napier City Councillor Maxine Boag says “In a community like Napier where there have been only 3 Māori councillors in 150 years, what a positive difference the ward will make to the next few years and hopefully beyond.”

Dean Hyde, Regional Team Leader for the E tū Union said that the Union movement had actively supported the campaign in Hawkes Bay, because the focus was about improving democratic representation and ensuring inclusivity within our communities. “Like Māori, working people and their whānau are increasingly under attack by this Government, we are proud to support this mahi”.

To all those that have stood up and spoken out these past few months - thank you! To all those who will continue the hīkoi towards a fairer thriving Aotearoa - thank you! To all those who are only just beginning the journey - haere mai, haere mai, haere mai!

Issued on behalf of For Wards Hawke’s Bay: Neill Gordon, Mark Cleary, Maxine Boag, Rizwaana Latiff, Dean Hyde and Ani Tylee.

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