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The number of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on NZ local authorities is set to be cut by more than half, after a controversial law change that forced local governments to put the future of hard-won Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have multiple councillors depending on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to give Māori electors the option to elect a assured Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, local governments were only able to establish a Indigenous seat by first putting it to a community referendum in their region. Communities often devoted considerable time building community backing and pushing their local governments to establish Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

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

However, this year, the current administration reversed the change, saying communities should decide whether to establish Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The new legislation required local authorities that had created a ward under Labour’s rules to conduct decisive public votes concurrently with the local body elections, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the referendum, 17 voted to retain their wards, and 25 to abolish theirs – showing many regions against guaranteed Māori representation.

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

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. Officials has said it wants to terminate “race-based” approaches, and asserts it is committed to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the public votes were divided down city-country divisions – 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 Indigenous seats that had only just come in – they’re only just starting to hit their stride.”

Voter Turnout and Criticism

This year’s local government elections registered the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with less than a third of eligible voters participating, leading to calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

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

“Well, they failed. Many communities have expressed strong opposition.”

This remark referred to the 17 areas that voted to retain their wards.