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The number of reserved seats for Māori representatives on New Zealand councils is set to be slashed by over 50%, following a controversial law change that forced local governments to put the fate of hard-won Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which may have one or more councillors based on demographic data, were created in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the choice to vote for a guaranteed Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Initially, local governments 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 community backing and urging their councils to establish Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To address this concern, the former administration permitted municipal authorities to establish a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to put it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, saying local residents should decide whether to introduce Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The new legislation required local authorities that had created a ward under Labour’s rules to hold decisive public votes alongside the municipal polls, which ended on October 11. Of 42 councils participating in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their wards, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – showing many regions opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

These outcomes represented “a crucial move in restoring community self-determination.”

Opposition parties however have criticised the new policy as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the current administration has implemented sweeping rollbacks to measures designed to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has said it wants to end “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is dedicated to enhancing results for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

The results of the public votes were divided down urban-rural lines – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums backed Indigenous seats, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards removing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Indigenous seats that had recently been established – they’re only just starting to hit their stride.”

Voter Turnout and Criticism

The recent municipal polls registered the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with under one-third of eligible voters casting a vote, prompting calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are permitted to create different electoral districts – including rural wards – without initially mandating a public vote. The disparate requirements placed on Māori wards indicated the administration was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

“Well, they failed. Many communities have expressed strong opposition.”

This remark referred to the 17 areas that voted to keep their seats.