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The number of reserved seats for Māori representatives on NZ councils will be cut by over 50%, following a divisive law change that forced municipal councils to submit the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include multiple elected officials based on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the choice to vote for a guaranteed Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, local governments were only able to establish a Indigenous seat by first submitting it to a public vote in their region. Local populations frequently devoted considerable time building community backing and urging their local governments to establish Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the former administration permitted municipal authorities to establish a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to subject it to a popular ballot.

But in 2024, the current administration overturned the policy, saying communities should decide whether to establish Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required councils that had created a electoral district under Labour’s rules to hold binding referendums concurrently with the local body elections, which ended on October 11. Of 42 councils participating in the referendum, 17 voted to keep their wards, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – revealing many regions against guaranteed Māori representation.

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

Critics nevertheless have condemned the government’s law change as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the current administration has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to measures intended to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has stated it wants to end “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is committed to enhancing results for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

The results of the referendums were split down city-country divisions – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums supported Indigenous seats, while rural regions leaned strongly 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 smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with less than a third of eligible voters participating, leading to demands for reform.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Councils are permitted to create different electoral districts – such as rural wards – without first requiring a public vote. The disparate requirements applied to Indigenous representation indicated the administration was singling out Māori representation.

“Well, they failed. Many communities have given the government a middle finger response.”

This remark concerned the 17 areas that voted to keep their seats.