🔗 Share this article

The count of reserved positions for Māori representatives on New Zealand councils will be slashed by more than half, following a controversial legislative amendment that forced local governments to put the fate of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include multiple councillors based on demographic data, were created in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the option to elect a assured Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Originally, councils were only able to establish a Māori ward by initially putting it to a public vote in their area. Local populations frequently spent years building local support and pushing their councils to create Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the former administration permitted local councils to establish a Māori ward without first requiring them to put it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, stating local residents should decide whether to establish Māori wards.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change mandated councils that had created 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 decided to retain their seats, and 25 to disestablish theirs – showing many regions against guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes represented “a crucial move in restoring community self-determination.”

Critics nevertheless have criticised the government’s law change as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the current administration has ushered in extensive reversals to measures designed to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has said it wants to terminate “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is committed to enhancing results for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the public votes were split down urban-rural lines – most cities mandated to hold referendums 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.”

Electoral Participation and Concerns

This year’s municipal polls registered the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with less than a third of citizens participating, leading to calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are permitted to create different wards – such as rural wards – without initially mandating a community ballot. The different conditions applied to Māori wards indicated the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

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

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