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The count of guaranteed seats for Indigenous council members on NZ local authorities is set to be slashed by more than half, after a controversial legislative amendment that required municipal councils to put the fate of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which may have one or more councillors based on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the choice to vote for a guaranteed Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, councils were only able to create a Indigenous seat by initially submitting it to a community referendum in their area. Local populations frequently devoted considerable time generating local support and urging their local governments to create Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government allowed municipal authorities to establish a Māori ward without first requiring them to put it to a popular ballot.

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

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change mandated local authorities that had created a electoral district under Labour’s rules to hold binding referendums concurrently with the municipal polls, which concluded on 11 October. Of 42 councils taking part in the public vote, 17 voted to keep their wards, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

These outcomes provided “a vital step in restoring local democratic control.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have condemned the new policy as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the coalition government has implemented extensive reversals to policies intended to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has said it aims to terminate “ethnic-specific” policies, and asserts it is committed to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

The results of the referendums were divided down urban-rural lines – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums backed Māori wards, while rural regions leaned strongly towards removing them.

“It’s a real shame for the Māori wards that had recently been established – they’re only just starting to find their footing.”

Voter Turnout and Concerns

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.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are permitted to create other types of electoral districts – including rural wards – without first requiring a public vote. The different conditions applied to Indigenous representation suggested the administration was singling out Māori representation.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Numerous localities have expressed strong opposition.”

This statement concerned the 17 regions that voted to keep their wards.