Five candidates were in the running for the $135,900
councillor job. The winner received just 464 votes! Only 11.9% of voters on the
Māori roll voted in the
postal ballot.
In Whangarei, the turnout for the Māori ward in 2022 was just 23.8% (vs 43.3%
in the general wards). Of the two candidates elected, Te Pati Māori candidate,
Phoenix Ruka, polled the lowest with 889 votes.
The turnout for the Northland Regional Council Te Raki
Māori constituency was 28.6% vs 43.2% in the general constituencies.
The question must be asked: Why
have Māori wards when so few Māori choose to vote?