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The count of reserved seats for Indigenous council members on New Zealand local authorities will be cut by over 50%, after a controversial legislative amendment that required local governments to put the future of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which can include multiple elected officials depending on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the choice to vote for a guaranteed Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Initially, councils could only create a Indigenous seat by initially submitting it to a public vote in their area. Communities frequently spent years generating local support and pushing their councils to create Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government allowed municipal authorities to establish a Māori ward without first requiring them to subject it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the current administration overturned the policy, saying local residents should decide whether to establish Māori wards.

Voting Outcomes

The new legislation mandated local authorities that had created a ward under Labour’s rules to conduct binding referendums alongside the municipal polls, which concluded on October 11. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the referendum, 17 voted to keep their seats, and 25 to abolish theirs – showing numerous areas against guaranteed Māori representation.

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

Critics nevertheless have condemned the new policy as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the current administration has implemented sweeping rollbacks to measures designed to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has stated it aims to end “race-based” policies, and says it is committed to enhancing results for Māori and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the referendums were split down urban-rural lines – most urban centers required to vote supported Māori wards, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards removing them.

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

Electoral Participation and Concerns

The recent municipal polls recorded the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with under one-third of citizens casting a vote, leading to demands for reform.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are able to create different electoral districts – such as countryside seats – without first requiring a community ballot. The different conditions applied to Māori wards suggested the administration was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Many communities have given the government a middle finger response.”

This statement concerned the 17 areas that voted to retain their wards.