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The count of reserved seats for Māori representatives on New Zealand councils will be cut by over 50%, following a controversial legislative amendment that forced municipal councils to submit the fate of hard-won Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include multiple elected officials depending on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to provide Māori electors the choice to elect a guaranteed Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, local governments could only establish a Indigenous seat by initially putting it to a community referendum in their area. Local populations often spent years building community backing and urging their local governments to create Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government allowed local councils to set up a Māori ward 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 Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change mandated councils that had established a ward under Labour’s rules to hold decisive public votes concurrently with the local body elections, which concluded on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the referendum, 17 voted to keep their wards, and 25 to disestablish theirs – revealing many regions against reserved Indigenous seats.

These outcomes provided “a crucial move in reinstating local democratic control.”

Critics however have condemned the new policy as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has said it aims to terminate “race-based” policies, and says it is dedicated to enhancing results for Māori and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

The results of the public votes were split down city-country divisions – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums supported Māori wards, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

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

Electoral Participation and Criticism

The recent municipal polls recorded the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with less than a third of citizens casting a vote, leading to demands for reform.

The process had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are able to create different wards – including countryside seats – without initially mandating a community ballot. 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 retain their wards.