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The count of reserved seats for Indigenous council members on NZ local authorities is set to be slashed by more than half, after a divisive law change that required local governments to submit the fate of hard-won Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which may have multiple elected officials depending on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the choice to vote for a guaranteed Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Originally, councils were only able to establish a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a public vote in their area. Local populations often devoted considerable time building local support and pushing their local governments to establish Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

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

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

Referendum Results

The new legislation required councils that had created a ward under Labour’s rules to conduct decisive public votes concurrently with the municipal polls, which concluded on 11 October. Of 42 councils taking part in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their seats, and 25 to disestablish theirs – revealing many regions against guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes represented “a vital step in restoring community self-determination.”

Critics however have criticised the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to measures designed to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has said it wants to terminate “race-based” policies, and asserts it is dedicated to enhancing results for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the public votes were split down city-country divisions – six of the seven urban centers mandated to hold referendums backed Indigenous seats, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards removing them.

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

Electoral Participation and Concerns

This year’s local government elections recorded the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with less than a third of eligible voters casting a vote, leading to demands for reform.

The process had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are permitted to create different electoral districts – such as rural wards – without initially mandating a public vote. The different conditions applied to Māori wards indicated the government was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

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

This remark concerned the 17 regions that chose to retain their seats.