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The count of reserved seats for Indigenous council members on NZ local authorities is set to be cut by over 50%, following a controversial legislative amendment that required local governments to put the future of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which can include multiple elected officials depending on demographic data, were established in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the choice to vote for a assured Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Originally, councils could only establish a Māori ward by initially putting it to a public vote in their region. Local populations often spent years generating local support and pushing their councils to create Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the former administration permitted local councils to set up a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to subject it to a popular ballot.

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

Referendum Results

The new legislation required local authorities that had created a electoral district under the previous policy to hold decisive public votes alongside the local body elections, which ended on October 11. Of 42 councils participating in the public vote, 17 decided to retain their seats, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas against guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes provided “a vital step in reinstating community self-determination.”

Critics however have condemned the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the coalition government has implemented extensive reversals to measures designed to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it aims to end “ethnic-specific” policies, and asserts it is committed 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 supported 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 just beginning to hit their stride.”

Voter Turnout and Concerns

The recent local government elections registered the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with less than a third of citizens casting a vote, leading to calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Councils are permitted to create other types of wards – including rural wards – without initially mandating a public vote. The different conditions applied to Indigenous representation suggested the administration was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

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

This statement referred to the 17 areas that chose to retain their seats.