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The count of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on New Zealand local authorities will be cut by more than half, after a divisive law change that forced local governments to submit the future of hard-won Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which can include one or more councillors based on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to give Māori electors the option to vote for a assured Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, councils were only able to create a Indigenous seat by initially submitting it to a community referendum in their region. Local populations frequently devoted considerable time building community backing and pushing their councils to establish Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government permitted local councils to establish a Māori ward without initially mandating them to put it to a popular ballot.

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

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required councils that had created a ward under the previous policy to hold binding referendums concurrently with the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Of 42 councils taking part in the referendum, 17 decided to retain their wards, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing many regions against guaranteed Māori representation.

The results represented “a crucial move in reinstating local democratic control.”

Critics nevertheless have criticised the government’s law change as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the coalition government has implemented extensive reversals to policies intended to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has said it wants to end “race-based” approaches, and says it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the public votes were divided down city-country divisions – most cities mandated to hold referendums supported Indigenous seats, while rural regions leaned strongly towards removing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Concerns

The recent local government elections recorded the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with less than a third of eligible voters casting a vote, prompting demands for reform.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are able to establish other types of wards – including countryside seats – without initially mandating a public vote. The different conditions placed on Indigenous representation suggested the government was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Many communities have expressed strong opposition.”

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