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The number of guaranteed seats for Indigenous council members on NZ councils will be slashed by more than half, following a divisive law change that required municipal councils to submit the fate of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have multiple councillors based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Māori electors the choice to elect a assured Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Initially, councils could only establish a Indigenous seat by initially submitting it to a public vote in their area. Local populations frequently devoted considerable time building local support and urging their councils to establish Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

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 public vote.

However, this year, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, stating communities should decide whether to establish Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The new legislation required councils that had created a ward under the previous policy to conduct decisive public votes concurrently with the local body elections, which concluded on 11 October. Of 42 councils participating in the public vote, 17 decided to retain their seats, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – showing numerous areas opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

The results provided “a vital step in reinstating community self-determination.”

Critics however have condemned the new policy as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the current administration has implemented sweeping rollbacks to policies intended to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has said it aims to end “race-based” approaches, and asserts it is committed to enhancing results for Māori and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the referendums were split down urban-rural lines – most cities required to vote backed Māori wards, while rural regions skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Māori wards that had recently been established – they’re only just starting to hit their stride.”

Electoral Participation and Concerns

This year’s local government elections recorded the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with under one-third of citizens casting a vote, leading to demands for reform.

The process had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Councils are permitted to establish different electoral districts – including countryside seats – without first requiring a public vote. The different conditions placed on Indigenous representation suggested the administration was singling out Māori representation.

“Well, they failed. Many communities have given the government a middle finger response.”

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