32 councils established Māori wards following the passing of Nanaia Mahuta's law, which removed the right for ratepayers to demand a referendum when councils proposed creating one or more Māori wards.
These councils can choose between:
- Disestablish now, with effect from 2025
- Referendum in 2025, with effect from 2028
13 councils have voted to create Māori ward(s) but they have not yet actually been established (in other words, they are intended to exist from the 2025 local body elections).
These councils can choose between:
- Rescind their vote to create Māori ward(s)
- Referendum in 2025, with effect from 2028