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The number of reserved seats for Indigenous council members on NZ local authorities will be cut by more than half, after a controversial law change that forced municipal councils to submit the future of hard-won Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include multiple elected officials depending on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the option to vote for a assured Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Originally, councils could only create a Indigenous seat by initially submitting it to a public vote in their area. Communities frequently devoted considerable time building community backing and urging their local governments to create Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the former administration permitted municipal authorities to establish a Māori ward without initially mandating them to put it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the current administration overturned the policy, saying local residents should decide whether to establish Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required councils that had created a electoral district under the previous policy to conduct decisive public votes alongside the local body elections, which concluded on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their wards, and 25 to disestablish theirs – showing many regions opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

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

Opposition parties nevertheless have condemned the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the current administration has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to policies intended to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has stated it wants to end “race-based” approaches, and asserts it is dedicated to enhancing results for Māori and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the referendums were divided down city-country divisions – most cities mandated to hold referendums backed Indigenous seats, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards removing them.

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

Electoral Participation and Concerns

The recent municipal polls recorded the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with under one-third of eligible voters participating, leading to calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are able to establish different wards – including rural wards – without first requiring a public vote. The different conditions placed on Indigenous representation indicated the administration was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Many communities have given the government a middle finger response.”

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