Whakaaro ki te Pōti
Designed to uplift Māori voice, leadership, and voter turnout in local government elections. More than a political exercise, voting is presented as an expression of mana and whakapapa — a vital means for Māori to influence decisions that affect their whenua, whānau, and future generations.
Māori participating in local government
Whakaaro ki te Pōti is a kaupapa Māori civic participation initiative led by Te Matarau a Māui in partnership with Te Awarua.
Māori have long been underrepresented in local governance. Yet local councils make decisions that shape many aspects of daily life, including climate action, housing, transport, and regional development. Whakaaro ki te Pōti seeks to make civic engagement meaningful and accessible by rooting it in kaupapa tuku iho and Māori values.
The programme is structured to support both ends of the democratic process: encouraging more Māori to vote, and preparing future Māori leaders to stand for election. At the heart of Whakaaro ki te Pōti are two core goals. The first is to activate Māori voter turnout by making the electoral process more visible, relevant, and responsive to Māori aspirations. The second is to support the development of Māori leadership through mentoring and preparation for those considering standing for council, community boards, and other local roles.
Shaping local government
The programme will support rangatahi Māori aged 16 to 30 who are new to the voting process, Māori who have never voted or are not currently enrolled, and Māori candidates preparing for the 2025 elections. It also provides opportunities for mana whenua, mātāwaka, whānau Māori, and community leaders who wish to influence and shape local government
decision-making.
- A series of regional wānanga will be hosted in Porirua, Pōneke, Wairarapa and
beyond, offering safe, Māori-led spaces for discussion about why voting matters. - A Māori Candidate Development Programme will provide a short, intensive course for aspiring candidates. It includes campaign strategy, understanding the structure of local government, values-based leadership, and effective communications. Participants will also be mentored by experienced Māori councillors and campaigners.
- A digital storytelling campaign, "Māori Voices in Council" will run alongside the in-person initiatives. Through videos and social media, Māori leaders, rangatahi, and whānau will share their personal reflections on voting, leadership, and their hopes for their communities — amplifying Māori visibility and voice in the public sphere.
- Whakaaro ki te Pōti will also host a regional Māori Candidate Forum, where
candidates will present their kaupapa to the community in a tikanga-led, livestreamed environment. These forums provide a respectful space for whānau to engage with the people putting themselves forward to lead.
Get involved!
Interested in the Whakaaro ki te Pōti kaupapa? Contact us to find out how to get involved.
