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The count of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on New Zealand local authorities will be slashed by over 50%, after a divisive law change that required municipal councils to put the future of hard-earned Māori seats to a public vote.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which can include one or more councillors based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to give Māori electors the option to elect a assured Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, local governments were only able to create a Māori ward by initially putting it to a public vote in their region. Communities often devoted considerable time generating local support and urging their councils to create Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To address this concern, the former administration allowed local councils to set up a Māori ward without initially mandating them to subject it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, saying communities ought to determine whether to introduce Māori wards.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change mandated local authorities that had established a electoral district under Labour’s rules to hold binding referendums concurrently with the local body elections, which ended on October 11. Of 42 councils taking part in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their wards, and 25 to abolish theirs – showing many regions opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

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

Opposition parties nevertheless have condemned the new policy as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the current administration has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to measures designed to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has stated it wants to terminate “ethnic-specific” policies, and says it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the public votes were divided down urban-rural lines – most urban centers required to vote backed Māori wards, while rural regions leaned strongly towards removing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Indigenous seats that had recently been established – they’re just beginning to hit their stride.”

Voter Turnout and Criticism

The recent local government elections registered the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with under one-third of eligible voters casting a vote, leading to demands for reform.

The process had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are permitted to create different electoral districts – such as rural wards – without initially mandating a public vote. The disparate requirements placed on Māori wards indicated the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

“Well, they failed. Many communities have given the government a middle finger response.”

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