🔗 Share this article

The count of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on New Zealand local authorities will be cut by more than half, following a controversial law change that forced municipal councils to put the future of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have multiple elected officials based on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to provide Māori electors the option to elect a guaranteed Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Originally, councils could only establish a Indigenous seat by initially submitting it to a public vote in their region. Communities frequently spent years building community backing and urging their local governments to establish Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To address this concern, the former administration permitted municipal authorities to set up a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to put it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government 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 ward under Labour’s rules to hold binding referendums alongside the local body elections, which concluded on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the public vote, 17 voted to retain their seats, and 25 to disestablish theirs – revealing many regions opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

These outcomes provided “a crucial move in restoring local democratic control.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have condemned the government’s law change as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. 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 “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is dedicated to enhancing results for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

The results of the public votes were divided down urban-rural lines – most urban centers mandated to hold referendums backed Māori wards, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Indigenous seats that had only just come in – they’re just beginning to find their footing.”

Electoral Participation and Concerns

The recent local government elections registered the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with under one-third of eligible voters casting a vote, leading to calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are able to create different wards – including countryside seats – without first requiring a community ballot. The disparate requirements applied to Māori wards suggested the administration was targeting Māori representation.

“Well, they failed. Numerous localities have expressed strong opposition.”

This statement concerned the 17 regions that chose to keep their seats.