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The number of guaranteed seats for Indigenous council members on New Zealand councils is set to be slashed by more than half, after a controversial law change that required local governments to submit the future of hard-won Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which can include multiple councillors depending on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Māori electors the option to elect a assured Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Originally, local governments were only able to create a Indigenous seat by initially submitting it to a public vote in their region. Local populations often spent years building community backing and urging their local governments to create Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government allowed local councils to set up a Māori ward without first requiring them to subject it to a popular ballot.

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

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change required local authorities that had created a electoral district under the previous policy to hold binding referendums concurrently with the local body elections, which concluded on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments participating in the referendum, 17 voted to keep their wards, and 25 to disestablish theirs – revealing many regions against reserved Indigenous seats.

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

Opposition parties nevertheless have condemned the government’s law change as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to measures intended to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has said it aims to terminate “race-based” policies, and asserts it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the referendums were split down urban-rural lines – most cities required to vote backed Māori wards, while rural regions 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 hit their stride.”

Voter Turnout and Concerns

The recent local government elections recorded the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with under one-third of citizens participating, leading to calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are permitted to create other types of wards – including countryside seats – without initially mandating a community ballot. The disparate requirements placed on Indigenous representation suggested the administration was singling out Māori representation.

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

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