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The count of guaranteed seats for Indigenous council members on NZ councils will be cut by more than half, after a divisive legislative amendment that forced local governments to submit the future of hard-earned Māori seats to a public vote.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include one or more elected officials based on demographic data, were created in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the choice to elect a guaranteed Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Originally, councils were only able to create a Indigenous seat by initially submitting it to a public vote in their area. Local populations often spent years building local support and pushing their local governments to create Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the former administration permitted municipal authorities to set up a Māori ward without first requiring them to put it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the current administration reversed the change, stating local residents should decide whether to establish Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The new legislation mandated local authorities that had established a electoral district under the previous policy to conduct binding referendums concurrently with the local body elections, which ended on October 11. Out of 42 local governments participating in the public vote, 17 decided to retain their seats, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas against guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes provided “a crucial move in restoring community self-determination.”

Critics nevertheless have condemned the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has ushered in extensive reversals to measures designed to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has said it aims to end “race-based” policies, and says it is dedicated to enhancing results for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the public votes were split down urban-rural lines – six of the seven cities required to vote backed Māori wards, while rural regions leaned strongly towards removing 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

The recent local government elections recorded the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with less than a third of citizens casting a vote, leading to demands for reform.

The process had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Councils are able to create different wards – such as countryside seats – without first requiring a community ballot. The disparate requirements placed on Indigenous representation indicated the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

“Well, they failed. Many communities have expressed strong opposition.”

This statement concerned the 17 areas that voted to retain their wards.