Fifteen-year-old Jack Karetai-Barrett will walk 160 kilometres over four days from Whakatāne to Mount Maunganui and back to encourage a "yes" vote for Māori wards.

Mr Karetai-Barrett told Local Democracy Reporting the hīkoi (walk/march) was his way of making sure his views were counted in decisions about the future.

The Whakatāne High School Year 11 student has been involved in the Māori wards movement since he was 10 years-old.

In 2020, he and his mother Māwera Karetai travelled with Te Rōpū Tautoko Māori member Toni Boynton to Wellington to deliver a petition supporting law changes to allow councils to introduce Māori wards without referenda.

Mr Karetai-Barrett was chosen to present the petition in a kete (basket of peace) to then Minister for Local Government Nanaia Mahuta on the steps of Parliament.

He said the kete still hangs on the wall at home as a reminder.

The Labour Government passed legislation in 2022 removing the requirement for referenda on Māori wards.

That law was reversed by the current Government last year. Councils that introduced Māori wards without a referendum must now either disestablish them or hold a binding vote in October.

Whakatāne District Council, which currently has three Māori ward councillors, will hold a referendum.

The result will apply to the 2028 and 2031 local elections.

Mr Karetai-Barrett will begin his hīkoi on Monday, walking two days to Tauranga with a green tick on his backpack to promote a "yes" vote.

He will then rest for a day before walking back to Whakatāne.

Tauranga City Council is not holding a vote this year, but Western Bay of Plenty District Council, which is along his route, will hold a referendum, as will Whakatāne.

Mr Karetai-Barrett said the hīkoi was about general awareness rather than targeting specific councils, and he chose the route because he knows it well.

"I know the road quite well, I know places I can stop and get food," he said.

He notes others are welcome to join for parts of the walk but is also prepared to complete it alone.

He created a Facebook group called "Walk for wards" to share updates and said that someone in Wainuiomata had contacted him to say they were inspired to plan a similar walk in their area.

Mr Karetai-Barrett said Māori wards matter because Māori voter turnout is usually lower than the general population.

"Therefore any Māori candidates standing in the general seats can't get enough votes."

"This isn't because Māori don't care about politics, but rather due to a deep-seated mistrust in the systems that have been used against Māori for so long."

"Many feel that voting doesn't lead to real change, as decisions are often made without truly considering Māori perspectives."

Then Local Government Minister Simeon Brown said the previous law "denied" communities the right to decide on Māori wards and weakened democratic principles.