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The count of reserved positions for Māori representatives on NZ councils is set to be cut by more than half, after a controversial law change that required municipal councils to submit the future of hard-won Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include multiple elected officials based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to elect a guaranteed Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Initially, local governments could only create a Indigenous seat by first submitting it to a community referendum in their region. Communities frequently devoted considerable time generating local support and pushing their councils to create Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government allowed municipal authorities to set up a Māori ward without first requiring them to put it to a popular ballot.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, saying communities ought to determine whether to introduce Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The new legislation required local authorities that had created a electoral district under Labour’s rules to hold decisive public votes alongside the local body elections, which concluded on October 11. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the public vote, 17 decided to keep their seats, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – revealing numerous areas against reserved Indigenous seats.

These outcomes represented “a crucial move in restoring community self-determination.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have criticised the new policy as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to policies intended to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it wants to end “race-based” approaches, and says it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the public votes were divided down urban-rural lines – most cities required to vote backed Indigenous seats, while rural regions leaned strongly towards removing them.

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

Electoral Participation 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, leading to demands for reform.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Councils are permitted to establish different electoral districts – such as countryside seats – without first requiring a public vote. The different conditions applied to Indigenous representation indicated the government was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

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

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