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The number of guaranteed positions for Māori representatives on New Zealand councils is set to be cut by over 50%, following a divisive legislative amendment that forced municipal councils to submit the fate of hard-won Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which may have one or more councillors depending on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to provide Māori electors the option to elect a guaranteed Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Initially, local governments could only establish a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a public vote in their region. Communities often spent years building local support and pushing their local governments to establish Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the former administration permitted municipal authorities to set up a Māori ward without initially mandating them to put it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the current administration reversed the change, stating local residents ought to determine whether to establish Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required councils that had established a ward under Labour’s rules to hold binding referendums alongside the local body elections, which concluded on October 11. Out of 42 local governments participating in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their seats, and 25 to disestablish theirs – showing many regions opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

These outcomes represented “a vital step in reinstating community self-determination.”

Critics however have criticised the new policy as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the coalition government has implemented sweeping rollbacks to measures intended to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has stated it wants to terminate “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is committed to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the referendums were divided down city-country divisions – six of the seven urban centers mandated to hold referendums backed Māori wards, while countryside areas 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 recorded the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with under one-third of eligible voters participating, prompting demands for reform.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Councils are permitted to establish different wards – including rural wards – 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 remark referred to the 17 regions that voted to keep their seats.