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The count of reserved seats for Māori representatives on New Zealand local authorities will be slashed by over 50%, after a controversial legislative amendment that required municipal councils to put the fate of hard-won Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which can include multiple elected officials depending on demographic data, were created in 2001 to provide Māori electors the choice to elect a guaranteed Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Initially, local governments were only able to establish a Māori ward by first submitting it to a public vote in their region. Communities frequently spent years building local support and urging their councils to establish Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the former administration permitted municipal authorities to set up a Māori ward without initially mandating them to subject it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the current administration overturned the policy, saying communities ought to determine whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The new legislation mandated local authorities that had created a electoral district under the previous policy to conduct decisive public votes concurrently with the local body elections, which concluded on October 11. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the public vote, 17 voted to retain their seats, and 25 to disestablish theirs – revealing numerous areas against reserved Indigenous seats.

These outcomes represented “a vital step in restoring local democratic control.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have criticised the government’s law change as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the current administration has ushered in extensive reversals to policies intended to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has said it wants to end “race-based” policies, and asserts it is committed to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the referendums were split down urban-rural lines – six of the seven urban centers required to vote supported Māori wards, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Māori wards that had recently been established – they’re just beginning to find their footing.”

Electoral Participation and Concerns

The recent municipal polls recorded the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with under one-third of eligible voters casting a vote, leading to demands for reform.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Councils are permitted to create other types of wards – such as rural wards – without first requiring a public vote. The disparate requirements applied to Indigenous representation indicated the administration was singling out Māori representation.

“Well, they failed. Numerous localities have expressed strong opposition.”

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