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The number of reserved positions for Māori representatives on New Zealand councils will be slashed by more than half, following a controversial law change that required municipal councils to submit the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which may have multiple elected officials depending on demographic data, were created in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the choice to vote for a guaranteed Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Initially, local governments were only able to create a Indigenous seat by first submitting it to a community referendum in their area. Local populations often devoted considerable time building community backing and urging their local governments to establish Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the former administration allowed municipal authorities 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, saying communities ought to determine whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change mandated local authorities that had established a ward under Labour’s rules to conduct binding referendums concurrently with the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments participating in the referendum, 17 voted to keep their wards, and 25 to abolish theirs – showing many regions against guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes represented “a crucial move in restoring local democratic control.”

Critics however have criticised the new policy as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has said it aims to end “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 divided down city-country divisions – most cities required to vote backed Indigenous seats, while rural regions leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Criticism

This year’s local government elections recorded the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with under one-third of citizens participating, prompting calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Councils are able 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 government was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

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

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