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The count of reserved seats for Indigenous council members on New Zealand councils will be slashed by over 50%, after a divisive legislative amendment that forced municipal councils to put the fate of hard-won Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include multiple elected officials depending on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to elect a guaranteed Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Initially, local governments could only establish a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a community referendum in their area. Communities often devoted considerable time building local support and pushing their local governments to create Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To address this concern, the former administration allowed municipal authorities to establish a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to put it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the current administration overturned the policy, stating communities ought to determine whether to establish Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change mandated councils that had established a ward under Labour’s rules to hold decisive public votes concurrently with the local body elections, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the referendum, 17 decided to retain their seats, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – showing numerous areas opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

The results provided “a vital step in restoring local democratic control.”

Opposition parties however have criticised the new policy as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the coalition government has implemented extensive reversals to measures designed to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has stated it wants to end “race-based” approaches, and asserts it is committed to enhancing results for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the public votes were divided down urban-rural lines – most urban centers mandated to hold referendums backed Māori wards, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards removing them.

“It’s a real shame for the Māori wards that had only just come in – they’re just beginning to find their footing.”

Voter Turnout and Criticism

The recent local government elections recorded the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with less than a third of citizens casting a vote, prompting demands for reform.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are permitted to establish other types of wards – such as rural wards – without initially mandating a community ballot. The disparate requirements applied to Māori wards suggested the administration was singling out Māori representation.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.”

This statement referred to the 17 regions that chose to retain their seats.