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The number of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on NZ local authorities is set to be cut by over 50%, following a divisive legislative amendment that required municipal councils to put the future of hard-won Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which may have multiple councillors based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Māori electors the option to elect a guaranteed Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Initially, councils were only able to establish a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a public vote in their area. Communities often spent years building community backing and urging their councils to establish Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To address this concern, the previous Labour government allowed municipal authorities 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 reversed the change, saying communities ought to determine whether to introduce Māori wards.

Voting Outcomes

The new legislation required local authorities that had established a ward under the previous policy to conduct decisive public votes alongside the local body elections, which ended on 11 October. Of 42 councils taking part in the public vote, 17 decided to keep their seats, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas against reserved Indigenous seats.

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

Opposition parties nevertheless have condemned the new policy as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to policies intended to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has said it aims to end “ethnic-specific” approaches, and asserts it is dedicated to enhancing results for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the referendums were split down urban-rural lines – six of the seven urban centers required to vote supported Indigenous seats, while rural regions leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Māori wards that had recently been established – they’re only just starting to hit their stride.”

Electoral Participation and Criticism

The recent local government elections registered the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with under one-third of eligible voters participating, prompting demands for reform.

The process had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are permitted to create different wards – including rural wards – without initially mandating a community ballot. The disparate requirements applied to Indigenous representation suggested the administration was singling out Māori representation.

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

This remark concerned the 17 regions that chose to keep their seats.