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The number of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on NZ local authorities is set to be slashed by over 50%, after a divisive law change that required local governments to put the future of hard-won Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include one or more councillors based on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to elect a assured Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, local governments could only create a Māori ward by initially putting it to a community referendum in their area. Local populations frequently devoted considerable time building community backing and pushing their local governments to establish Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the former administration permitted local councils to set up a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to subject it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, stating communities should decide whether to establish Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change required local authorities that had created a electoral district under Labour’s rules to hold binding referendums alongside the local body elections, which concluded on 11 October. Of 42 councils participating in the public vote, 17 voted to retain their seats, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing many regions against guaranteed Māori representation.

The results provided “a crucial move in restoring community self-determination.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have condemned the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the current administration has implemented sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it aims to terminate “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is committed to enhancing results for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the referendums were split down city-country divisions – most urban centers required to vote backed Māori wards, while rural regions leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

“It’s a real shame for the Māori wards that had recently been established – they’re only just starting to hit their stride.”

Voter Turnout and Criticism

This year’s local government elections registered the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with less than a third of eligible voters casting a vote, prompting calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are permitted to establish other types of electoral districts – such as countryside seats – without first requiring a public vote. The disparate requirements placed on Indigenous representation suggested the government was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

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

This statement concerned the 17 regions that chose to retain their wards.