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The number of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on NZ councils is set to be cut by more than half, following a divisive legislative amendment that required municipal councils to submit the fate of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include multiple councillors depending on demographic data, were established in 2001 to give Māori electors the choice to vote for a assured Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, councils were only able to establish a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a community referendum in their region. Communities frequently devoted considerable time building community backing and pushing their councils to create Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the former administration allowed local councils to establish a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to subject it to a popular ballot.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, saying local residents ought to determine whether to introduce Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change mandated local authorities that had established a ward under Labour’s rules to hold decisive public votes concurrently with the municipal polls, which concluded on October 11. Of 42 councils participating in the referendum, 17 voted to retain their wards, and 25 to disestablish theirs – showing numerous areas against reserved Indigenous seats.

The results represented “a vital step in restoring community self-determination.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have criticised the new policy as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the coalition government has implemented extensive reversals to measures intended to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has said it aims to terminate “race-based” policies, and asserts it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the referendums were split down urban-rural lines – most urban centers required to vote backed Indigenous seats, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Māori wards that had only just come in – 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 under one-third of eligible voters casting a vote, leading to demands for reform.

The process had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Councils are permitted to create different electoral districts – including rural wards – without initially mandating a public vote. The disparate requirements applied to Indigenous representation indicated the administration was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

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

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