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The count of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on NZ councils is set to be cut by over 50%, after a controversial law change that required local governments to submit the future of hard-won Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which can include multiple elected officials depending on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Māori electors the choice to vote for a assured Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, local governments could only create a Māori ward by first submitting it to a community referendum in their area. Communities frequently spent years generating local support and pushing their local governments to create Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the former administration permitted municipal authorities to set up a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to put it to a popular ballot.

However, this year, the current administration reversed the change, stating local residents ought to determine whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The new legislation required local authorities that had created a electoral district under the previous policy to conduct decisive public votes alongside the local body elections, which concluded on October 11. Of 42 councils taking part in the referendum, 17 voted to retain their seats, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – showing many regions opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

The results provided “a vital step in restoring community self-determination.”

Opposition parties however have criticised the new policy as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has implemented sweeping rollbacks to policies intended to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has stated it wants to terminate “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is dedicated to enhancing results for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the public votes were divided 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.”

Electoral Participation and Criticism

The recent local government elections registered the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with under one-third of citizens casting a vote, prompting demands for reform.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Councils are able to create other types of wards – such as countryside seats – without initially mandating a public vote. The different conditions placed on Indigenous representation suggested the administration was targeting Māori representation.

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

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