🔗 Share this article

The number of reserved seats for Indigenous council members on NZ councils will be cut by more than half, after a controversial legislative amendment that forced municipal councils to submit the future of hard-earned Māori seats to a public vote.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which may have multiple councillors depending on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Māori electors the choice to vote for a assured Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Originally, councils could only create a Indigenous seat by initially submitting it to a community referendum in their region. Communities often devoted considerable time generating community backing and pushing their councils to create Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the former administration permitted municipal authorities to establish a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to put it to a popular ballot.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, stating local residents ought to determine whether to establish Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change mandated councils that had established a ward under the previous policy to conduct binding referendums alongside the municipal polls, which ended on October 11. Out of 42 local governments participating in the referendum, 17 voted to retain their seats, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing many regions opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

The results represented “a crucial move in reinstating local democratic control.”

Critics however have condemned the new policy as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the current administration has ushered in extensive reversals to measures intended to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has said it aims to end “race-based” policies, and asserts it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

The results of the public votes were split down urban-rural lines – six of the seven urban centers required to vote supported Indigenous seats, while countryside areas 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.”

Electoral Participation and Concerns

The recent local government elections recorded the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with under one-third of eligible voters participating, leading to calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are able to establish other types of electoral districts – such as countryside seats – without initially mandating a public vote. The disparate requirements placed on Māori wards indicated the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

“Well, they failed. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.”

This remark concerned the 17 regions that voted to retain their wards.