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The count of reserved seats for Indigenous council members on NZ local authorities will be slashed by over 50%, following a controversial law change that required local governments to submit the fate of hard-won Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which can include multiple councillors depending on demographic data, were created in 2001 to provide Māori electors the option to vote for a assured Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, local governments were only able to establish a Indigenous seat by initially putting it to a public vote in their region. Communities often spent years generating local support and pushing their councils to create Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the former administration permitted local councils to set up a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to put it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the current administration reversed the change, saying communities ought to determine whether to establish Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required local authorities that had created a ward under Labour’s rules to conduct binding referendums concurrently with the local body elections, which concluded on October 11. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the referendum, 17 voted to retain their seats, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – showing numerous areas opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

The results provided “a crucial move in restoring community self-determination.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have condemned the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to policies intended to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has said it wants to end “race-based” policies, and asserts it is dedicated to enhancing results for Māori and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the public votes were divided down urban-rural lines – most cities required to vote backed Indigenous seats, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

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

Electoral Participation and Concerns

This year’s local government elections recorded the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with under one-third of citizens casting a vote, prompting calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are permitted to establish different electoral districts – including rural wards – without first requiring a public vote. The different conditions placed on Māori wards suggested the government was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

“Well, they failed. Many communities have given the government a middle finger response.”

This remark referred to the 17 regions that voted to retain their wards.