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The count of guaranteed seats for Indigenous council members on New Zealand councils is set to be cut by over 50%, after a controversial law change that forced local governments to submit the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have multiple elected officials depending on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Māori electors the choice to vote for a assured Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Originally, councils could only establish a Māori ward by first putting it to a community referendum in their area. Local populations frequently devoted considerable time generating community backing and pushing their councils to establish Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the former administration allowed local councils to set up a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to subject it to a popular ballot.

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

Referendum Results

The new legislation required local authorities that had created a ward under Labour’s rules to conduct decisive public votes alongside the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments participating in the public vote, 17 decided to retain their wards, and 25 to abolish theirs – showing numerous areas against reserved Indigenous seats.

The results represented “a crucial move in reinstating community self-determination.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have criticised the government’s law change as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the current administration has implemented extensive reversals to policies intended to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it aims to end “ethnic-specific” approaches, and asserts it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the referendums were divided down city-country divisions – six of the seven urban centers mandated to hold referendums backed Indigenous seats, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards removing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Criticism

This year’s local government elections registered the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with less than a third of eligible voters participating, leading to demands for reform.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are permitted to create other types of electoral districts – such as countryside seats – without initially mandating a community ballot. The different conditions placed on Māori wards suggested the administration was targeting Māori representation.

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

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