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The count of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on NZ councils will be cut by more than half, following a divisive law change that forced local governments to put the fate of hard-won Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which may have multiple councillors based on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to provide Māori electors the choice to elect a assured Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, local governments were only able to establish a Māori ward by first putting it to a public vote in their region. Communities frequently spent years building local support and pushing their councils to create Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To address this concern, the former administration allowed local councils to set up a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to subject it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, stating local residents ought to determine whether to introduce Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change mandated local authorities that had established a ward under Labour’s rules to conduct binding referendums alongside the local body elections, which ended on October 11. Of 42 councils participating in the public vote, 17 decided to keep their seats, and 25 to disestablish theirs – showing numerous areas opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

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

Critics nevertheless have condemned the government’s law change as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to measures designed to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it aims to terminate “race-based” approaches, and says it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the public votes were divided down urban-rural lines – six of the seven urban centers required to vote backed Māori wards, while rural regions leaned strongly towards removing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Indigenous seats that had recently been established – they’re just beginning to hit their stride.”

Electoral Participation and Criticism

The recent municipal polls registered the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with less than a third of eligible voters participating, leading to demands for reform.

The process had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are able to establish other types of wards – including countryside seats – without initially mandating a public vote. The disparate requirements placed on Māori wards indicated the government was targeting Māori representation.

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

This remark concerned the 17 areas that chose to keep their wards.