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The number of reserved seats for Indigenous council members on New Zealand councils is set to be slashed by over 50%, following a divisive legislative amendment that forced local governments to submit the fate of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include one or more elected officials depending on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to elect a guaranteed Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Initially, local governments were only able to establish a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a community referendum in their area. Local populations often spent years generating community backing and pushing their local governments to create Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To address this concern, the former administration allowed municipal authorities to set up a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to put it to a public vote.

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

Voting Outcomes

The new legislation mandated local authorities that had created a ward under the previous policy to hold decisive public votes alongside the municipal polls, which ended on October 11. Of 42 councils participating in the referendum, 17 decided to retain their wards, and 25 to abolish theirs – showing many regions against reserved Indigenous seats.

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

Opposition parties nevertheless have criticised the new policy as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to measures intended to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has stated it wants to end “ethnic-specific” policies, and says it is dedicated to enhancing results for Māori and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

The results of the referendums were divided down city-country divisions – six of the seven urban centers required to vote backed Indigenous seats, while rural regions skewed heavily towards removing them.

“It’s a real shame for the Māori wards that had only just come in – they’re only just starting to hit their stride.”

Voter Turnout and Criticism

The recent municipal polls recorded 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”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are able to establish other types of wards – including rural wards – without first requiring a community ballot. The different conditions applied to Māori wards indicated the administration was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

“Well, they failed. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.”

This remark referred to the 17 areas that chose to retain their wards.