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The count of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on New Zealand councils will be slashed by more than half, following a controversial legislative amendment that required municipal councils to submit the future of hard-won Māori seats to a public vote.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include one or more councillors depending on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the choice to vote for a guaranteed Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, councils could only establish a Māori ward by initially putting it to a public vote in their area. Communities often spent years generating local support and urging their local governments to establish Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the former administration permitted municipal authorities to establish a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to subject it to a popular ballot.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, saying communities should decide whether to introduce Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change mandated local authorities that had created a electoral district under Labour’s rules to conduct decisive public votes concurrently with the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their seats, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – showing numerous areas against reserved Indigenous seats.

The results represented “a vital step in reinstating community self-determination.”

Critics nevertheless have criticised the new policy as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the coalition government has implemented extensive reversals to policies designed to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has said it aims to end “ethnic-specific” policies, and says it is dedicated to enhancing results for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the public votes were divided down city-country divisions – most cities mandated to hold referendums supported Māori wards, while rural regions skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

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

Electoral Participation and Concerns

This year’s municipal polls recorded the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with under one-third of eligible voters participating, leading to demands for reform.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are able to establish different electoral districts – including rural wards – without first requiring a public vote. The different conditions applied to Māori wards suggested the administration was singling out Māori representation.

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

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