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The number of reserved seats for Māori representatives on NZ local authorities is set to be cut by more than half, after a controversial legislative amendment that forced local governments to submit the fate of hard-won Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which may have one or more elected officials based on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to provide Māori electors the option to vote for a guaranteed Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, councils were only able to create a Māori ward by initially putting it to a community referendum in their area. Local populations frequently devoted considerable time building community backing and pushing their local governments to establish Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government allowed local councils to establish a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to subject it to a popular ballot.

But in 2024, the current administration overturned the policy, stating communities should decide whether to establish Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

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

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

Critics however have criticised the government’s law change as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to measures designed to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has stated it aims to terminate “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is committed to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the public votes were divided down urban-rural lines – most cities required to vote supported Indigenous seats, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards removing them.

“It’s a real shame for the Indigenous seats that had only just come in – they’re just beginning to find their footing.”

Voter Turnout and Concerns

The recent local government elections registered the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with less than a third of eligible voters participating, prompting demands for reform.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are able to establish different electoral districts – including countryside seats – without initially mandating a public vote. The different conditions applied to Māori wards suggested the administration was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

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

This remark concerned the 17 areas that voted to retain their seats.