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The number of reserved positions for Māori representatives on New Zealand local authorities is set to be cut by more than half, after a controversial legislative amendment that forced local governments to put the future of hard-won Māori seats to a public vote.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which may have multiple councillors depending on demographic data, were established in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the option to elect a guaranteed Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Initially, local governments were only able to establish a Māori ward by initially putting it to a community referendum in their area. Communities frequently spent years building local support and pushing their local governments to establish Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the former administration permitted municipal authorities to set up a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to subject it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, stating local residents ought to determine whether to introduce Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change mandated councils that had established a ward under the previous policy to hold decisive public votes concurrently with the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Of 42 councils taking part in the public vote, 17 voted to keep their wards, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing many regions opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

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

Critics however have condemned the government’s law change as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the current administration has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to measures designed to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has said it wants to terminate “ethnic-specific” policies, and says it is dedicated to enhancing results for Māori and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the public votes were divided down city-country divisions – six of the seven cities required to vote backed Indigenous seats, while rural regions skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Māori wards that had only just come in – they’re only just starting to find their footing.”

Electoral Participation and Criticism

This year’s municipal polls recorded the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with less than a third of eligible voters casting a vote, prompting demands for reform.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Councils are able to create different wards – including rural wards – without first requiring a community ballot. The disparate requirements placed on Māori wards indicated the administration was singling out Māori representation.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.”

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