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The number of guaranteed seats for Indigenous council members on New Zealand councils will be cut by more than half, following a controversial legislative amendment that forced municipal councils to put the future of hard-won Māori seats to a public vote.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which may have multiple elected officials depending on demographic data, were created in 2001 to provide Māori electors the choice to elect a assured Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, local governments were only able to create a Indigenous seat by first submitting it to a community referendum in their region. Communities frequently spent years building local support and pushing their local governments to create Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the former administration allowed local councils to set up a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to subject it to a popular ballot.

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

Referendum Results

The new legislation required local authorities that had established a electoral district under the previous policy to conduct binding referendums alongside the local body elections, which concluded on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the public vote, 17 decided to keep their wards, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – revealing many regions opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

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

Critics however have condemned the new policy as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the current administration has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to policies intended to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has stated it wants to terminate “race-based” policies, and says it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the public votes were divided down urban-rural lines – most urban centers required to vote backed Indigenous seats, while countryside areas 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.”

Electoral Participation and Concerns

This year’s local government elections registered the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with under one-third of citizens casting a vote, leading to calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Councils are able to establish other types of wards – such as rural wards – without first requiring a public vote. The different conditions applied to Māori wards indicated the administration was targeting Māori representation.

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

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