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The number of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on New Zealand councils is set to be cut by more than half, following a divisive law change that forced municipal councils to submit the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include one or more councillors based on demographic data, were created in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the option to vote for a guaranteed Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, local governments were only able to establish a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a community referendum in their area. Local populations often spent years generating community backing and urging their councils to establish Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the former administration allowed local councils to establish a Māori ward without initially mandating them to subject it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the current administration reversed the change, saying local residents should decide whether to establish Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The new legislation mandated councils that had established a electoral district under the previous policy to conduct decisive public votes alongside the local body elections, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the public vote, 17 voted to retain their seats, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – showing numerous areas opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

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

Opposition parties however have condemned the new policy as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the current administration has ushered in extensive reversals to policies intended to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has said it wants to end “ethnic-specific” policies, and asserts it is committed to improving outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the referendums were split down city-country divisions – six of the seven urban centers required to vote supported Indigenous seats, while rural regions skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

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

Electoral Participation and Concerns

The recent local government elections recorded the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with less than a third of citizens participating, leading to calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are permitted to establish other types of wards – including rural wards – without first requiring a public vote. The different conditions applied to Māori wards suggested the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

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

This statement concerned the 17 areas that chose to keep their wards.