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The number of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on NZ councils will be cut by over 50%, after a divisive law change that forced local governments 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 councillors depending on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to give Māori electors the option to vote for a guaranteed Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, councils were only able to establish a Māori ward by first putting it to a community referendum in their area. Local populations often spent years building community backing and pushing their councils to create Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the former administration permitted municipal authorities to establish a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to subject it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, saying local residents should decide whether to introduce Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The new legislation required local authorities that had created a ward under Labour’s rules to conduct decisive public votes alongside the municipal polls, which concluded on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the referendum, 17 decided to retain their seats, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – revealing many regions against reserved Indigenous seats.

The results represented “a crucial move in reinstating community self-determination.”

Opposition parties however have criticised the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has ushered in extensive reversals to policies intended to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has stated it wants to end “race-based” approaches, and says it is committed to enhancing results for Māori and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

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

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

Electoral Participation and Concerns

The recent municipal polls registered the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with under one-third of eligible voters participating, leading to calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are able to create different electoral districts – including rural wards – without initially mandating a public vote. The disparate requirements placed on Indigenous representation suggested the government was targeting Māori representation.

“Well, they failed. Numerous localities have expressed strong opposition.”

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