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The number of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on NZ councils will be slashed by over 50%, following a divisive legislative amendment that forced local governments to submit the future of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have multiple councillors based on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to give Māori electors the option to vote for a guaranteed Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, councils were only able to establish a Māori ward by first submitting it to a community referendum in their region. Local populations frequently devoted considerable time generating community backing and urging their councils to create Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the former administration allowed local councils to establish a Māori ward without first requiring them to put it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, stating local residents ought to determine whether to introduce Māori wards.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change mandated local authorities that had created a ward under Labour’s rules to hold decisive public votes alongside the municipal polls, which concluded on 11 October. Of 42 councils participating in the referendum, 17 decided to retain their wards, and 25 to disestablish theirs – showing many regions against reserved Indigenous seats.

The results represented “a crucial move in restoring community self-determination.”

Critics nevertheless have condemned the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the coalition government has ushered in extensive reversals to measures intended to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has stated it wants to end “ethnic-specific” policies, and says it is dedicated to enhancing results for Māori and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the public votes were split down city-country divisions – most cities required to vote backed Māori wards, while rural regions skewed heavily towards removing them.

“It’s a real shame for the Indigenous seats that had only just come in – they’re only just starting to hit their stride.”

Voter Turnout and Criticism

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

This approach had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are permitted to create other types of electoral districts – such as countryside seats – without first requiring a community ballot. The disparate requirements applied to Māori wards indicated the administration was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

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

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