Bishop Anashuya Fletcher, Dean Jay Ruka and Archbishop Emeritus David Moxon have all joined the call for Christian communities to back a faithful, positive response to this October's 42 referenda on Māori wards.

Three Anglican leaders are taking part in a Māori wards education campaign launched by Christian social justice group Common Grace Aotearoa that is resourcing churches to support Māori wards as a fairer go for Māori as Treaty partners in local Government.

The Anglican leaders are calling Christians to look at the issues of fairness and equity that led to Māori wards and constituencies being put in place back in 2001, as the local Government equivalent of Māori electorates in Central Government, that have been part of New Zealand's democracy since 1867.

Anglican leaders are highlighting how City and District Councils across the Waikato, Taranaki, Bay of Plenty, Tairāwhiti, Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington and Te Tauihu o Te Waka a Maui (Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough) regions have been told to hold polls this October. While each Council has established Māori wards based on their Māori populations' size and the usual process of making any other new ward, the Coalition Government's recently imposed polls threaten Māori Councillors' roles beyond 2028.

Opening the Common Grace Aotearoa video in support of a Christian approach to Māori wards, Bishop Anashuya Fletcher made the connection between backing Māori wards and responding faithfully to God's call for fairness and equity. 

"God invites us to constantly explore and discern how we can build communities where everyone can belong, where our neighbours can thrive, and where we can celebrate and benefit from the diversity of how God has made us in the unique context of these lands."

"Voting in Maori Ward referendums is a chance to reflect deeply on God's heart for us all to belong, to honour the promise of the Treaty of Waitangi and to love our neighbours." Bishop Anashuya said.

Archbishop David Moxon emphasised that protecting the Māori wards in this year's referenda are a practical way to live up to the promises of partnership and equality that Pākehā and Māori Anglicans hoped for in Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

"Just as Christians played a foundational part in fostering the Treaty relationship in 1840 we have a key role today to ensure that the promises of the Treaty are being honoured."

Dean of Meri Tapu - Taranaki Cathedral, the Very Rev Jay Ruka offered the final word on Māori wards for the Common Grace Aotearoa introduction video, which also included input from Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Independent church and Salvation Army speakers.

"This October, what we are asking for yet again, is that our people will be at the table that makes decisions for the landscape, for the waterways, for the peoples of our communities."

"That is what Te Tiriti o Waitangi is about. We invite you to prayerfully consider how you and your family will vote in your upcoming referendum on whether to keep a Māori Ward this October."

For more information about the Māori wards referenda for your church or group, go to the Common Grace Aotearoa Māori wards workshop sign up page.