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The count of reserved seats for Indigenous council members on NZ councils is set to be cut by more than half, following a controversial legislative amendment that required municipal councils to put the future of hard-won Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which may have multiple elected officials depending on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to provide Māori electors the choice to vote for a guaranteed Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, local governments could only create a Māori ward by first putting it to a community referendum in their area. Communities often devoted considerable time building community backing and pushing their councils to create Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government permitted municipal authorities to establish a Māori ward without initially mandating them to subject it to a popular ballot.

But in 2024, the current administration overturned the policy, stating communities ought to determine whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change required councils that had created a electoral district under the previous policy to hold binding referendums concurrently with the local body elections, which concluded on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their wards, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – showing many regions opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

These outcomes represented “a crucial move in reinstating community self-determination.”

Critics nevertheless have condemned the new policy as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the coalition government has implemented sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has said it wants to end “ethnic-specific” approaches, and asserts it is committed to enhancing results for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

The results of the public votes were split down city-country divisions – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums supported Māori wards, while rural regions leaned strongly towards removing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Concerns

The recent local government elections recorded the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with less than a third of eligible voters participating, leading to demands for reform.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Councils are able to establish other types of wards – including rural wards – without initially mandating a community ballot. The different conditions placed on Māori wards suggested the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

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

This remark referred to the 17 areas that voted to keep their wards.