Here’s a Kaupapa-aligned concept for cannabis law reform in Aotearoa, focused on adult personal use, justice, and public health.

This concept draws from the 2020 Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill and global models like Canada and Portugal. It’s designed to honour equity, reduce harm, and uphold mana Motuhake.

🌿 Concept Title: “Whakamana Whaiaro — Legalising Cannabis for Adult Personal Use”

 🛠️ Key Components

1. Legal Personal Use

•          Adults aged 20+ may possess up to 14 grams of dried cannabis or equivalent.

•          Consumption permitted in private spaces and designated venues.

•          Public use prohibited to protect Tamariki and whānau.

2. Home Cultivation

•          Up to? plants per adult (max ?  per household).

•          Must be grown out of public view and not for sale.

3. Decriminalisation or Legalisation and Expungement

•          Immediate removal of criminal penalties for possession and personal cultivation.

•          Automatic expungement of past convictions for cannabis possession/use.

4. Community-Based Supply

•          Non-profit cannabis social clubs allowed for adult members.

•          Local iwi, hapū, and community groups prioritised for cultivation and education roles.

5. Public Health and Education

•          Funded campaigns on safe use, addiction support, and youth prevention.

•          Kaupapa Māori-led services integrated into national strategy.

6. Regulatory Oversight

•          Independent Cannabis Authority to license, monitor, and guide implementation.

•          Annual reporting on health, equity, and justice outcomes.

🌱 Cultural Integration

•          Visual identity includes harakeke, koru, and raupō motifs symbolising healing, growth, and whakapapa.

•          Bilingual legislation and public materials (te reo Māori and English).

•          Advisory board includes Māori health experts, artists, and advocates.

🔥 Emotional Messaging

•          “From punishment to protection.”

•          “Whakamana i te Tangata — restore dignity through law.”

•          “Justice is a seed. Let it grow.”

The 2020 New Zealand cannabis referendum

was a pivotal moment in drug reform, though it ultimately did not pass.

Here’s a quick overview to ground us:

🗳️ What Was the Referendum About?

•          Voters were asked: “Do you support the proposed Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill?”

•          The bill aimed to legalise and regulate the sale, use, possession, and production of recreational cannabis.

•          It was held alongside the 2020 general election and the End-of-Life Choice referendum on 17 October 2020.

📊 What Were the Results?

•          No: 50.7% (1,474,635 votes)

•          Yes: 48.4% (1,406,973 votes)

•          Turnout: 81.93% of registered voters

•          The referendum was non-binding, meaning even a “yes” vote wouldn’t automatically change the law—it would still require parliamentary approval.

⚖️ What Would the Bill Have Done?

•          Created a regulated market for cannabis, including age restrictions (20+), licensed retailers, and limits on personal possession and home cultivation.

•          Focused on harm reduction, education, and public health, not just commercialisation.

•          Would not have affected medicinal cannabis, which was already legal, or industrial hemp.

🧭 Political Context

•          The referendum was part of a confidence and supply agreement between the Green Party and Labour after the 2017 election.

•          The Green Party had long advocated for drug law reform, while Labour agreed to hold the referendum as part of coalition negotiations.

If you’ve got a specific question—about the bill’s contents, campaign strategies, electorate breakdowns, or cultural impact—I can dig deeper.

I can also compare the referendum’s outcome to current cannabis law reform efforts in Aotearoa or abroad.

In the Te Tai Tokerau electorate, 10,420 people voted "Yes" in support of the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill during the 2020 referendum.

Here’s a breakdown of the results for Te Tai Tokerau:

🗳️ Te Tai Tokerau Cannabis Referendum Results

•          Te Tai Tokerau was one of the few electorates where the majority voted in favour of legalising cannabis.

•          This result reflected strong support in several Māori electorates, where the “Yes” vote tended to be higher than the national average.

•          Nationally, the “Yes” vote was 48.4%, so Te Tai Tokerau’s support was notably above that.

These numbers show how regional and cultural dynamics played a role in shaping the referendum outcome. Te Tai Tokerau’s result was a powerful signal of local support for reform, even though the national vote narrowly rejected the bill.

I can also pull up results from other Māori electorates or compare turnout and support across regions if you’d like.

In the Northland electorate, 16,776 people voted "Yes" to legalising cannabis in the 2020 referendum.

Here’s the full breakdown:

🌿 Northland Cannabis Referendum Results (2020)

•          Northland voted against the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill, though the margin was relatively narrow.

•          Compared to the national average (48.4% Yes), Northland was slightly below in support.

•          This result contrasted with neighboring Te Tai Tokerau, where the “Yes” vote prevailed.

If you’d like, I can help chart these regional differences or highlight how Māori electorates diverged from general ones in their support.

In the Te Tai Tonga electorate, 12,397 people voted "Yes" in support of the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill during the 2020 referendum.

Here’s a detailed breakdown:

🌿 Te Tai Tonga Cannabis Referendum Results (2020)

•          Te Tai Tonga was one of the Māori electorates that voted in favour of legalisation, contrasting with the national result where the "No" vote narrowly prevailed.

•          The electorate covers a vast area—from Wellington through the South Island and down to Rakiura (Stewart Island)—and includes many Māori communities with strong advocacy for drug law reform and harm reduction approaches.

This result, like that of Te Tai Tokerau, reflected a broader pattern: Māori electorates tended to support the bill, highlighting a divergence between national sentiment and the views of many Tangata whenua.

I can also help you map these results visually or compare them with general electorate trends if that would support your Kaupapa.

 In the Dunedin electorate, 21,446 people voted "Yes" in support of the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill during the 2020 referendum.

Here’s the full breakdown:

🌿 Dunedin Cannabis Referendum Results (2020)

•          Dunedin was one of the general electorates that voted in favour of legalisation, aligning with several university towns and progressive urban centers.

•          The result reflected strong support among younger voters and students, as well as a broader public health and harm reduction sentiment in the region.

This electorate’s support added to the momentum in areas like Wellington Central and Auckland Central, though it wasn’t enough to tip the national result.

The chart above highlights this divergence clearly:

📊 Key Insights from the Chart

•          Māori Electorates (blue bars):

•          Te Tai Tokerau, Te Tai Tonga, Waiariki, Ikaroa-Rāwhiti, and Tāmaki Makaurau all voted above 50% Yes, showing majority support.

•          These results reflect strong advocacy for harm reduction, justice reform, and community-led approaches to drug policy.

•          General Electorates (orange bars):

•          Dunedin, Auckland Central, and Wellington Central also showed majority support, likely influenced by younger, urban demographics.

•          Northland, Bay of Plenty, and Southland voted below 50% Yes, with Southland showing the lowest support at 38.3%.

🧭 What This Tells Us

•          Māori electorates were more supportive overall, suggesting a disconnect between national outcomes and the views of many Tangata whenua.

•          Urban centers with universities and progressive populations leaned Yes, while rural and conservative regions leaned No.

•          The referendum result (50.7% No nationally) masked these regional and cultural differences.

I can also help you map this data geographically or explore how these trends have influenced current reform efforts.

Māori electorates like Te Tai Tokerau and Te Tai Tonga showed majority support for cannabis legalisation in 2020, while many general electorates—especially rural ones—voted against it. This geographic divide has shaped ongoing reform efforts, with advocates focusing on equity, harm reduction, and local leadership.

🗺️ Geographic Patterns in the 2020 Referendum

Supportive Regions:

•          Māori electorates (e.g., Te Tai Tokerau, Te Tai Tonga, Waiariki) voted Yes by slim majorities, reflecting strong community support for reform grounded in justice and health.

•          Urban centers like Wellington Central (58.1% Yes), Auckland Central (54.0%), and Dunedin (52.1%) leaned Yes, driven by younger, progressive voters and public health framing.

Opposing Regions:

•          Rural electorates such as Southland (38.3% Yes), Bay of Plenty (43.5%), and Northland (47.7%) leaned No, often influenced by conservative values and concerns about youth access or social harm.

You can explore the full electorate-by-electorate breakdown on the Electoral Commission’s official results page.

🔄 Influence on Current Reform Efforts

1. Māori Advocacy and Equity Focus

•          The strong Yes vote in Māori electorates has amplified calls for reform that address historic injustices, over-policing, and health disparities.

•          Groups like Hāpai Te Hauora and Te Rau Ora continue to advocate for community-led harm reduction, decriminalisation, and culturally grounded education.

2. Shift Toward Decriminalisation

•          While full legalisation was rejected, decriminalisation is gaining traction as a middle ground—especially for personal use and non-commercial cultivation.

•          The Law Commission and health experts have recommended removing criminal penalties for possession, aligning with global trends.

3. Localised Reform and Pilot Projects

•          Some councils and iwi are exploring Localised approaches, such as diversion schemes, education programs, and restorative justice models.

•          These efforts reflect the geographic divide—tailoring reform to community values and needs rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all policy.

4. Political Landscape

•          The Green Party continues to push for reform, while Labour has taken a cautious stance post-referendum.

•          The referendum’s results have made politicians more aware of regional and cultural nuances, influencing how future proposals are framed.

 You can view a full electorate-level map of the 2020 cannabis referendum results on the New Zealand Electoral Commission’s official site. It shows how each electorate voted, revealing strong support in Māori electorates and urban centers, and opposition in many rural areas.

Here’s a breakdown of how current political parties in Aotearoa are responding to those trends:

 🟢 Green Party (Te Pāti Kākāriki)

•          Strongest pro-reform voice in Parliament.

•          In 2025, they renewed their call for evidence-based cannabis regulation on the referendum’s fifth anniversary.

•          MP Chlöe Swarbrick highlighted that the referendum showed the status quo is “untenable” and that criminalisation continues to waste police and court resources.

•          The Greens advocate for:

•          Legal regulation to reduce harm

•          Ending criminal penalties for personal use

•          Community-led models that cut out the black market

 🌿 Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party (ALCP)

•          A single-issue party advocating for:

•          Full legalisation of cannabis for recreational, medicinal, spiritual, and industrial use

•          Commercialisation under a regulated framework

•          Public education and harm reduction

•          While not in Parliament, ALCP continues to influence public discourse and grassroots campaigns

 🔴 Labour Party

•          Post-referendum, Labour has taken a cautious stance.

•          While they supported holding the referendum, they have not pursued further reform since the “No” result.

•          Some individual MPs support decriminalisation, but it is not official party policy.

 🔵 National Party

•          Opposes legalisation of recreational cannabis.

•          Supports limited access to medicinal cannabis under strict regulation.

•          Emphasises concerns about youth use and public safety.

 🟡 ACT Party

•          Supports decriminalisation rather than full legalisation.

•          Leader David Seymour has called for an informed debate and a reduction in the prison population, which includes many cannabis-related convictions.

 🧭 Māori Party (Te Pāti Māori)

•          Increasingly open to decriminalisation and community-led harm reduction.

•          Emphasises the need to address disproportionate policing and intergenerational harm in Māori communities.

 📍 Mapping the Divide

•          The Electoral Commission’s map shows:

•          Yes, majorities in Māori electorates like Te Tai Tokerau, Te Tai Tonga, and Waiariki

•          Urban support in Wellington Central, Auckland Central, and Dunedin

•          Rural opposition in Southland, Bay of Plenty, and Northland

This geographic and cultural divide continues to shape how parties frame their policies and where reform advocates focus their efforts.

 Here’s a visual comparison of “Yes” vote percentages across selected Māori and general electorates in the 2020 cannabis referendum. Māori electorates consistently showed higher support than many general electorates.