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The count of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on NZ local authorities will be cut by more than half, after a controversial legislative amendment that required local governments to submit the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a public vote.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which can include multiple elected officials depending on demographic data, were created in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to vote for a assured Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, local governments were only able to establish a Māori ward by first submitting it to a community referendum in their area. Local populations frequently spent years building local support and urging their local governments to establish Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government permitted municipal authorities to establish a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to subject it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the current administration reversed the change, stating communities ought to determine whether to introduce Māori wards.

Voting Outcomes

The new legislation required local authorities that had created a ward under Labour’s rules to conduct decisive public votes concurrently with the local body elections, which concluded on October 11. Out of 42 local governments participating in the referendum, 17 voted to keep their seats, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – showing numerous areas opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

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

Critics nevertheless have criticised the new policy as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to measures intended to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has stated it aims to terminate “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is committed to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

The results of the public votes were divided down urban-rural lines – most cities required to vote backed Indigenous seats, while rural regions skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

“It’s a real shame for the Māori wards that had only just come in – they’re only just starting to find their footing.”

Electoral Participation and Concerns

The recent local government elections registered the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with less than a third of citizens participating, leading to demands for reform.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Councils are able to establish other types of electoral districts – including rural wards – without first requiring a community ballot. The different conditions applied to Indigenous representation indicated the administration was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Many communities have expressed strong opposition.”

This remark referred to the 17 regions that chose to retain their wards.