🔗 Share this article

The number of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on New Zealand councils will be cut by more than half, following a controversial legislative amendment that required municipal councils to submit the fate of hard-won Māori seats to a public vote.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which can include multiple councillors based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Māori electors the option to vote for a assured Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Initially, councils could only establish a Indigenous seat by first putting it to a public vote in their area. Local populations frequently spent years building community backing and pushing their local governments to create Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To address this concern, the former administration permitted municipal authorities to set up a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to put it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, saying communities should decide whether to introduce Māori wards.

Voting Outcomes

The new legislation mandated local authorities that had established a ward under the previous policy to conduct binding referendums alongside the municipal polls, which ended on October 11. Of 42 councils taking part in the public vote, 17 decided to keep their seats, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas against guaranteed Māori representation.

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

Critics nevertheless have condemned the new policy as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the current administration has implemented extensive reversals to policies designed to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has said it wants to end “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 split down urban-rural lines – most cities mandated to hold referendums backed Māori wards, 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.”

Voter Turnout and Concerns

The recent municipal polls registered 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 mockery”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are permitted to establish other types of electoral districts – including rural wards – without initially mandating a community ballot. The disparate requirements placed on Indigenous representation indicated the government was singling out Māori representation.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.”

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