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The count of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on NZ 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 Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have one or more elected officials depending on demographic data, were created in 2001 to provide Māori electors the choice to vote for a guaranteed Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Originally, local governments could only create a Māori ward by first submitting it to a public vote in their area. Local populations often spent years building community backing and pushing their councils to create Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the former administration allowed municipal authorities to establish a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to put it to a popular ballot.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, stating communities should decide whether to establish Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change mandated councils that had established a ward under the previous policy to conduct binding referendums concurrently with the municipal polls, which concluded on October 11. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the referendum, 17 decided to retain their wards, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – showing 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 “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the current administration has implemented extensive reversals to measures designed to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has stated it aims to end “race-based” approaches, and says it is committed to enhancing results for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the referendums were split down city-country divisions – six of the seven cities required to vote supported Māori wards, while rural regions skewed heavily towards removing them.

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

Electoral Participation and Criticism

This year’s municipal polls registered the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with less than a third of eligible voters participating, leading to demands for reform.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Councils are able to establish different wards – including countryside seats – without initially mandating a community ballot. The disparate requirements applied to Māori wards suggested the administration was targeting Māori representation.

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

This remark concerned the 17 areas that chose to retain their wards.