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The count of reserved seats for Māori representatives on NZ councils is set to be cut by over 50%, after a controversial legislative amendment that forced local governments to put the future of hard-won Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include one or more councillors based on demographic data, were created in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the option to elect a guaranteed Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Initially, local governments could only establish a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a public vote in their area. Local populations frequently spent years building local support and pushing their councils to establish Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the former administration permitted local councils to establish a Māori ward without initially mandating them to subject it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, saying communities ought to determine whether to introduce Māori wards.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change required councils that had established a ward under Labour’s rules to conduct binding referendums concurrently with the local body elections, which ended on 11 October. Of 42 councils participating in the referendum, 17 decided to retain their wards, and 25 to disestablish theirs – showing numerous areas against reserved Indigenous seats.

The results represented “a vital step in reinstating local democratic control.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have criticised the new policy as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the current administration has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to measures intended to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has said it wants to end “ethnic-specific” policies, and asserts it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

The results of the referendums were divided down urban-rural lines – six of the seven urban centers mandated to hold referendums supported 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.”

Electoral Participation and Concerns

The recent municipal polls recorded the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with less than a third of eligible voters participating, prompting calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Councils are permitted to establish different electoral districts – such as rural wards – without initially mandating a public vote. The disparate requirements placed on Māori wards indicated the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Numerous localities have expressed strong opposition.”

This remark referred to the 17 areas that voted to keep their wards.