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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 legislative amendment that forced local governments to put the fate of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which can include one or more elected officials based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the choice to elect a assured Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Originally, local governments were only able to establish a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a community referendum in their area. Communities frequently spent years building local support and pushing their councils to create Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the former administration permitted municipal authorities to set up a Māori ward without first requiring them to put it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, saying local residents should decide whether to establish Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The new legislation required councils that had created a electoral district under the previous policy to conduct decisive public votes alongside the local body elections, which ended on October 11. Of 42 councils participating in the public vote, 17 decided to keep their seats, and 25 to disestablish theirs – revealing many regions 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 “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the current administration has implemented extensive reversals to policies intended to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has stated it aims to terminate “ethnic-specific” policies, and asserts it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the referendums were split down urban-rural lines – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums backed Indigenous seats, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards removing them.

“It’s a real shame for the Indigenous seats that had only just come in – they’re only just starting to find their footing.”

Voter Turnout and Concerns

This year’s local government elections recorded the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with less than a third of citizens casting a vote, leading to demands for reform.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are able to establish different wards – including countryside seats – without initially mandating a public vote. The different conditions applied to Māori wards suggested the government was singling out Māori representation.

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

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