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The number of guaranteed seats for Māori representatives on NZ councils will be slashed by more than half, after a divisive legislative amendment that required municipal councils to put the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which may have multiple elected officials based on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to elect a assured Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Initially, councils could only create a Indigenous seat by first submitting it to a community referendum in their area. Local populations often spent years building community backing and urging their councils to create Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To address this concern, the former administration permitted municipal authorities to set up a Māori ward without initially mandating them to put it to a public vote.

However, this year, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, saying local residents ought to determine whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change mandated local authorities that had created a ward under Labour’s rules to hold decisive public votes concurrently with the local body elections, which concluded on October 11. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the public vote, 17 decided to retain their wards, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – showing many regions opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

The results represented “a vital step in restoring local democratic control.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have criticised the new policy as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has ushered in extensive reversals to policies intended to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has said it wants to terminate “race-based” policies, and says it is committed to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the public votes were divided down urban-rural lines – most cities mandated to hold referendums backed Māori wards, while rural regions leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Māori wards that had only just come in – they’re only just starting to find their footing.”

Voter Turnout and Concerns

This year’s local government elections recorded the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with less than a third of citizens casting a vote, prompting calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Councils are able to create different electoral districts – such as countryside seats – without first requiring a community ballot. The different conditions placed on Māori wards indicated the administration was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Many communities have expressed strong opposition.”

This statement referred to the 17 areas that chose to keep their wards.