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The number of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on New Zealand local authorities is set to be cut by over 50%, after a divisive law change that required municipal councils to submit the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a public vote.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which may have multiple elected officials depending on demographic data, were created in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the choice to vote for a guaranteed Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Initially, councils could only create a Māori ward by first putting it to a public vote in their region. Local populations often devoted considerable time generating local support and pushing their councils to establish Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government allowed local councils to establish a Māori ward without initially mandating them to subject it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the current administration reversed the change, stating local residents should decide whether to introduce Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The new legislation required local authorities that had established a ward under Labour’s rules to conduct decisive public votes alongside the local body elections, which ended on October 11. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the public vote, 17 voted to keep their seats, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – showing many regions against guaranteed Māori representation.

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

Opposition parties nevertheless have condemned the new policy as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the current administration has ushered in extensive reversals to policies designed to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has stated it aims to end “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is committed to enhancing results for Māori and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the referendums were split down urban-rural lines – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums backed Māori wards, while rural regions leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Concerns

The recent municipal polls registered the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with less than a third of eligible voters participating, prompting calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are able to create other types of wards – such as rural wards – without initially mandating a public vote. The disparate requirements applied to Māori wards suggested the administration was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

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

This statement concerned the 17 regions that chose to keep their wards.