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The count of reserved positions for Māori representatives on NZ councils is set to be cut by more than half, after a controversial law change that required municipal councils to submit the fate of hard-won Māori seats to a public vote.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which can include multiple elected officials depending on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to vote for a assured Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, councils could only create a Indigenous seat by first putting it to a community referendum in their area. Local populations often spent years building local support and pushing their councils to create Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the former administration permitted local councils to set up a Māori ward without initially mandating them to put it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, stating communities ought to determine 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 conduct decisive public votes concurrently with the local body elections, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments participating in the public vote, 17 decided to retain their wards, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – showing numerous areas opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

The results represented “a crucial move in restoring community self-determination.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have criticised the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has implemented sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it wants to end “ethnic-specific” policies, and says it is committed to enhancing results for Māori and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the referendums were divided down urban-rural lines – six of the seven cities required to vote supported Māori wards, while rural regions skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Indigenous seats that had recently been established – they’re just beginning to find their footing.”

Voter Turnout and Concerns

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

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are permitted to establish other types of wards – such as countryside seats – without first requiring a community ballot. The different conditions applied to Māori wards suggested the administration was singling out Māori representation.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Numerous localities have expressed strong opposition.”

This statement concerned the 17 regions that voted to keep their wards.