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The count of guaranteed positions for Māori representatives on New Zealand local authorities will be cut by more than half, following a controversial law change that forced local governments to submit the fate of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include multiple elected officials depending on demographic data, were created in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the choice to elect a assured Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, local governments were only able to create a Māori ward by initially putting it to a public vote in their region. Local populations often spent years building community backing and urging their councils to establish Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government allowed municipal authorities to set up a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to put it to a popular ballot.

But in 2024, the current administration reversed the change, saying local residents should decide whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required councils that had established a electoral district under the previous policy to hold decisive public votes alongside the municipal polls, which concluded on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the public vote, 17 voted to retain their seats, and 25 to disestablish theirs – showing many regions opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

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

Opposition parties however have criticised the government’s law change as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has said it wants to end “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is committed to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

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 rural regions leaned strongly towards removing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Indigenous seats that had only just come in – they’re just beginning 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 eligible voters casting a vote, prompting demands for reform.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are permitted to establish different wards – such as countryside seats – without first requiring a public vote. The different conditions applied to Māori wards indicated the government was singling out Māori representation.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Many communities have expressed strong opposition.”

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