Two Weeks Left to Vote – Keep Māori Voices at the Table
You have two more weeks to vote!
Make sure you’re enrolled and that your voice is heard in the Māori Ward Referendum. This decision matters – vote to ensure Māori remain at the table.
If you haven’t received your voting papers, don’t wait. You may need to cast a Special Vote.
Haven’t Received Voting Papers?
It’s not too late to vote!
You have until October 10th at 5pm to enroll and request a special vote!
To do this, you can call 0800 36 76 56, visit www.vote.nz, text your name and address to 3676, or email enquiries@elections.govt.nz.
Special votes are required if:
you did not receive your voting papers in the post
you spoiled or damaged your voting paper
you are overseas during the election period
your name is not on the roll (but you qualify)
you are on the unpublished roll
Completed voting papers must be returned to the Electoral Officer by 12 noon, Saturday 11 October 2025.
Marilyn Ngawini Davis and her Moko Hineotera Mako.
Trustee Marilyn Davis Stands for Ruapehu Māori Ward
Te Korowai o Wainuiārua trustee, Marilyn Ngawini Davis, is standing for the Ruapehu Māori Ward in the local elections.
Born and raised in the Ruapehu District, Marilyn carries with her deep connections to the land, people, and history of Waimarino. Educated at Orautaha, Raetihi School and Ruapehu College, Marilyn’s life has been dedicated to serving whānau through education, social services, governance, and health. She has spent more than three decades involved in kōhanga reo, trained as an educator, and worked extensively in community wellbeing.
“I came home because my heart is here,” Marilyn says. “When I returned in November, I saw that our town was struggling. There were no doctors, the mill had closed, and our community felt like a ghost town. That made me sad, but it also gave me purpose – to stand for the wellbeing of our people and our community.”
Marilyn says her campaign is guided by three main priorities:
Whānau, hapū, iwi wellbeing – strengthening health, education, and social services so people can thrive.
Environment – ensuring Ruapehu towns and communities reflect pride, sustainability, and care for both people and place.
Community voice – making sure whānau, hapū, iwi and the wider community are heard at the Council table.
“I’m not standing just for Māori,” she explains. “I’m standing for all of us. My whole whānau is mixed – Tangata Tiriti, Māori and people from all over the world. To me it’s about kotahitanga, coming together, and making the right decisions for everyone.”
Her experience spans governance, management, education, social services and health, and she says those skills will help her represent whānau effectively at Council. But more than qualifications, Marilyn says it is her lived experience that shapes her vision.
“I’m a doer, not a talker. I want to see real change for our people – from our kaumātua to our pēpi, from our communities in town to our whānau in the valleys. It’s about building a stronger, united Ruapehu where our values and aspirations are at the heart of decision-making.”
Marilyn is also deeply passionate about te reo Māori and tikanga, and believes Māori Wards play a vital role in ensuring these taonga are recognised and valued in local governance.
“Our reo and tikanga are precious. Māori Wards are about making sure our voices, our knowledge and our ways are part of the decisions that affect us all. It’s about building understanding, not division.”
As a trustee of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua, Marilyn has already shown her commitment to iwi and community leadership. Standing for the Māori Ward, she hopes to extend that mahi further, representing Ruapehu whānau at the council table.
Contact Marilyn Davis
0204 003 0246
marilynkairimu@gmail.com
