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The count of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on NZ councils is set to be slashed by more than half, after a divisive legislative amendment that required municipal councils to submit the future of hard-won Māori seats to a public vote.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which can include multiple elected officials depending on demographic data, were created in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to elect a guaranteed Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Originally, councils could only establish a Indigenous seat by first putting it to a community referendum in their area. Local populations often spent years building community backing and urging their councils to establish Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To address this concern, the former administration allowed local councils to set up a Māori ward without first requiring them to subject it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, stating communities should decide whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The new legislation mandated councils that had established a electoral district under the previous policy to conduct decisive public votes concurrently with the local body elections, which ended on 11 October. Of 42 councils taking part in the public vote, 17 voted to keep their seats, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – showing numerous areas against guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes represented “a crucial move in reinstating local democratic control.”

Critics nevertheless have criticised the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the current administration has implemented sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has said it wants to end “ethnic-specific” policies, and asserts it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

The results of the referendums were divided down city-country divisions – most urban centers required to vote backed Māori wards, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

“It’s a real shame for the Indigenous seats that had recently been established – they’re just beginning to find their footing.”

Voter Turnout and Criticism

The recent local government elections registered the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with under one-third of citizens casting a vote, prompting demands for reform.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are permitted to create different electoral districts – such as countryside seats – without first requiring a community ballot. The different conditions applied to Indigenous representation indicated the administration was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

“Well, they failed. Many communities have expressed strong opposition.”

This statement concerned the 17 areas that voted to retain their wards.