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The count of reserved seats for Māori representatives on New Zealand councils is set to be slashed by over 50%, following a controversial law change that forced municipal councils to put the fate of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have one or more councillors depending on demographic data, were established in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the choice to elect a assured Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, councils could only establish a Indigenous seat by initially submitting it to a community referendum in their area. Local populations often devoted considerable time generating community backing and urging their councils to create Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To address this concern, the previous Labour government allowed local councils to establish a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to subject it to a popular ballot.

But in 2024, the current administration reversed the change, saying local residents ought to determine whether to introduce Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The new legislation required local authorities that had created a electoral district under Labour’s rules to hold binding referendums alongside the municipal polls, which concluded on 11 October. Of 42 councils taking part in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their wards, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing many regions opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

The results provided “a crucial move in restoring local democratic control.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have condemned the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the current administration has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to policies intended to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it wants to terminate “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is committed to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the referendums were split down urban-rural lines – most cities required to vote supported Māori wards, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards removing them.

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

Electoral Participation and Criticism

The recent municipal polls recorded the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with under one-third of citizens participating, prompting calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are able to create other types of wards – including rural wards – without first requiring a public vote. The disparate requirements placed on Indigenous representation suggested the administration was targeting Māori representation.

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

This statement referred to the 17 regions that chose to retain their seats.