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The count of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on New Zealand local authorities is set to be slashed by more than half, following a divisive law change that forced local governments to put the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which can include one or more councillors depending on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to give Māori electors the option to elect a assured Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, local governments were only able to establish a Māori ward by first submitting it to a community referendum in their region. Communities frequently devoted considerable time generating local support and pushing their local governments to create Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To address this concern, the previous Labour government allowed local councils to establish a Māori ward without first requiring them to subject it to a popular ballot.

But in 2024, the current administration reversed the change, saying local residents should decide whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change mandated local authorities that had created a ward under Labour’s rules to hold binding referendums alongside the local body elections, which concluded on October 11. Out of 42 local governments participating in the referendum, 17 voted to keep their wards, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – revealing many regions against guaranteed Māori representation.

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

Opposition parties however have criticised the government’s law change as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the coalition government has implemented extensive reversals to policies designed to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has stated it aims to terminate “race-based” policies, and asserts it is committed to enhancing results for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the referendums were split down urban-rural lines – six of the seven cities required to vote backed Māori wards, while rural regions skewed heavily towards removing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Indigenous seats that had only just come in – they’re only just starting to hit their stride.”

Voter Turnout and Criticism

This year’s municipal polls registered the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with under one-third of citizens participating, leading to demands for reform.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are permitted to create different wards – including rural wards – without initially mandating a public vote. The different conditions placed on Indigenous representation indicated the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

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

This statement referred to the 17 regions that chose to keep their wards.