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The number of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on New Zealand councils is set to be slashed by more than half, after a divisive law change that required municipal councils to put the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a public vote.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which can include multiple elected officials depending on demographic data, were established in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the option to elect a assured Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Initially, councils were only able to establish a Indigenous seat by first submitting it to a public vote in their area. Communities frequently spent years building community backing and urging their local governments to establish Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government allowed municipal authorities to establish a Māori ward without first requiring them to put it to a popular ballot.

However, this year, the current administration reversed the change, saying local residents should decide whether to establish Māori wards.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change mandated local authorities 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 participating in the referendum, 17 voted to retain their wards, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – showing numerous areas against reserved Indigenous seats.

These outcomes provided “a vital step in restoring community self-determination.”

Critics nevertheless have condemned the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the current administration has implemented sweeping rollbacks to measures designed to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has said it wants to end “race-based” approaches, and says it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the referendums were divided down urban-rural lines – six of the seven cities required to vote backed Indigenous seats, while rural regions leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Concerns

The recent municipal polls recorded the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with under one-third of eligible voters participating, prompting calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are able to establish other types of wards – including countryside seats – without first requiring a community ballot. The disparate requirements applied to Indigenous representation indicated the government was targeting Māori representation.

“Well, they failed. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.”

This remark referred to the 17 areas that chose to keep their wards.