Table Talk: Resource to Support Māori Wards Kōrero
As Māori wards come under threat across Aotearoa, Common Grace Aotearoa has released a new conversation resource to help churches respond with faith, clarity, and courage.
“The church must always stand on the side of honouring the image of God in every person — and that includes protecting Māori voice in our communities.”
Across Aotearoa, local referendums are being triggered that could remove Māori wards from district and city councils. These votes — made possible by recent legislative changes — are raising deep concerns about equity, representation, and how we uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi in local democracy.
In response, our friends at Common Grace Aotearoa have launched a new resource called Table Talk — designed to help churches like ours hold grounded, hope-filled conversations about what’s happening and why it matters.
👉 Sign up to download the resource
Why this matters to us
Our diocese is committed to being a transformative movement of local faith communities that seeks the good in our communities. This means standing alongside those whose voices are often marginalised — including tangata whenua.
Māori wards create a pathway for Māori representation on local councils — a step toward justice and true partnership. But under current rules, only Māori wards can be subjected to public referendums. That’s not the case for general wards, which can be created or removed by councils without a public vote. This double standard undermines fair representation and perpetuates structural inequality.
Even if there’s no referendum happening in your town, the message being sent nationally is clear — and damaging. That’s why every local church has a role to play in equipping our people to understand, respond, and engage in ways that reflect Christ’s heart for justice and whanaungatanga.
About the Table Talk resource
Table Talk is a downloadable resource designed for use in parishes, small groups, and homes. It includes:
A conversation toolkit with questions, prayer prompts, and background info
Short, accessible explainers on Māori wards and the referendum process
Downloadable slides and readings for Sunday gatherings or study groups
A short video from church leaders sharing why they support this kaupapa
It’s designed to help us speak from a place of faith and confidence — even if we don’t have all the answers. Whether you use it during a parish event, over kai with your home group, or in personal reflection, Table Talk helps bring this important issue into the life of the church.
A time for prayer, learning, and action
This is a significant moment in our nation’s story — and an opportunity for us, as Anglican communities, to embody our call to reconciliation and partnership.
The referendum process is already underway in some regions, and others may follow. We know that the movement to remove Māori wards is well organised. But we also know that the church has a unique opportunity to bear witness to a different way — one grounded in aroha, humility, and courage.
So we invite you:
🕯️ Download the Table Talk resource
🕯️ Share the video with your parish leadership or vestry
🕯️ Hold a conversation in your context — however small — and see where the Spirit leads
As a movement, let’s be known for showing up in moments like this — for choosing to listen, learn, and speak up for a future shaped by justice and true partnership.
Watch the video and access the Table Talk resource here:
👉 www.commongrace.nz/maoriwards
For more information or support bringing this conversation to your parish, contact:
hello@commongrace.nz
