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The count of guaranteed positions for Māori representatives on NZ councils will be cut by over 50%, after a controversial law change that required local governments to put the future of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have one or more councillors based on demographic data, were created in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to vote for a guaranteed Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Initially, local governments could only establish a Indigenous seat by initially putting it to a public vote in their region. Communities frequently spent years generating local support and urging their local governments to create Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the former administration allowed municipal authorities to set up a Māori ward without first requiring them to subject it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the current administration reversed the change, stating communities should decide whether to establish Māori wards.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change required local authorities that had created a electoral district under the previous policy to conduct binding referendums alongside the municipal polls, which ended on October 11. Of 42 councils taking part in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their wards, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – showing many regions against reserved Indigenous seats.

The results represented “a crucial move in reinstating local democratic control.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have condemned the new policy as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the coalition government has implemented extensive reversals to policies intended to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it aims to end “race-based” policies, and says it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

The results of the referendums were divided down urban-rural lines – six of the seven urban centers mandated to hold referendums supported Indigenous seats, while rural regions leaned strongly towards disestablishing 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.”

Electoral Participation and Concerns

The recent local government elections registered the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with under one-third of citizens casting a vote, leading to calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are able to create different electoral districts – including countryside seats – without initially mandating a public vote. The disparate requirements applied to Māori wards indicated the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

“Well, they failed. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.”

This remark referred to the 17 regions that voted to retain their seats.