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The count of reserved seats for Māori representatives on NZ councils is set to be slashed by more than half, after a divisive law change that forced municipal councils to put the future of hard-earned Indigenous wards 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 elect a guaranteed Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Originally, local governments could only create a Indigenous seat by initially submitting it to a community referendum in their area. Local populations frequently devoted considerable time building community backing and urging their councils to establish Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To address this concern, the previous Labour government allowed local councils to establish a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to subject it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the current administration reversed the change, saying local residents ought to determine whether to establish Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change mandated councils that had created a electoral district under the previous policy to hold decisive public votes alongside the local body elections, which ended on October 11. Of 42 councils participating in the referendum, 17 voted to retain their wards, and 25 to disestablish theirs – showing numerous areas against reserved Indigenous seats.

The results provided “a vital step in reinstating local democratic control.”

Critics nevertheless have criticised the new policy as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the coalition government has implemented sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it wants to terminate “ethnic-specific” policies, and says it is dedicated to enhancing results for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

The results of the referendums were divided down city-country divisions – most urban centers mandated to hold referendums backed Indigenous seats, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Criticism

This year’s local government elections registered the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with less than a third of eligible voters participating, prompting calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are permitted to create other types of electoral districts – such as countryside seats – without initially mandating a public vote. The different conditions applied to Māori wards indicated the administration was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

“Well, they failed. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.”

This remark concerned the 17 areas that chose to keep their wards.