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The number of guaranteed seats for Indigenous council members on NZ local authorities will be slashed by more than half, following a controversial law change that forced municipal councils to submit the fate of hard-won Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which can include one or more councillors based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Māori electors the option to elect a assured Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Originally, councils were only able to create a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a public vote in their region. Local populations often spent years building community backing and urging their local governments to create Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the former administration allowed local councils to establish a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to put it to a public vote.

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

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required local authorities that had established a ward under the previous policy to conduct decisive public votes concurrently with the local body elections, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments participating in the public vote, 17 voted to keep their seats, and 25 to disestablish theirs – revealing numerous areas opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes represented “a crucial move in restoring local democratic control.”

Opposition parties however have condemned the new policy as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to measures designed to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has said it aims to terminate “ethnic-specific” policies, and asserts it is committed to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the referendums were divided down urban-rural lines – six of the seven urban centers required to vote supported Indigenous seats, while rural regions 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 find their footing.”

Electoral Participation and Criticism

The recent municipal polls registered the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with less than a third of citizens casting a vote, leading to calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are able to create other types of electoral districts – such as rural wards – without first requiring a public vote. The disparate requirements applied to Indigenous representation suggested the administration was targeting Māori representation.

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

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