Te Pāti Māori Ikaroa-Rāwhiti candidate Haley Maxwell has expressed deep concern at yet another failure of Māori democracy, following confirmation that South Wairarapa Māori ward candidates’ profiles were excluded from the official voter booklet.
“This is not an isolated mistake. Just days after Whanganui Māori candidates were erased from the official booklet, we now see the exact same failure repeated in Wairarapa” the candidate said.
“This is a pattern, a systemic disregard for Māori wards, Māori candidates, and Māori voters. These are not small errors. They go to the heart of whether our people can participate fairly and equally in democracy.”
The error, confirmed by electoral officer Warwick Lampp, saw profiles of South Wairarapa Māori ward candidates Andrea Rutene and Whitu Karauna missing from voter information packs. Only Māori roll voters will receive a separate letter with their statements, meaning the wider community voting in a referendum on whether to retain the Māori ward will not see those candidates’ profiles.
“This undermines visibility, fairness, and legitimacy. It is inequitable, it is a breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and it sends the message that Māori representation is less important.”
Te Pāti Māori says Māori wards were fought for to guarantee representation, but those guarantees are being eroded by repeated administrative failures that amount to systemic prejudice.
“We stand with Andrea Rutene, Whitu Karauna, and the Māori candidates in Whanganui whose mana has also been diminished. Māori wards are about equity, not erasure. The integrity of these elections must be restored now.”