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The count of reserved positions for Māori representatives on NZ councils will be slashed by over 50%, after a divisive law change that required municipal councils to put the future of hard-won Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which can include multiple councillors depending on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to elect a assured Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Initially, councils were only able to establish a Indigenous seat by first submitting it to a public vote in their region. Communities frequently spent years generating local support and pushing their local governments to create Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To address this concern, the former administration permitted local councils to set up a Māori ward without initially mandating them to put it to a popular ballot.

However, this year, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, stating communities should decide whether to establish Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required local authorities that had created a electoral district under Labour’s rules to hold binding referendums concurrently with the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Of 42 councils taking part in the public vote, 17 voted to keep their wards, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – revealing many regions against guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes represented “a vital step 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 implemented sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it aims to end “ethnic-specific” approaches, and asserts it is committed to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the referendums were split down urban-rural lines – most urban centers mandated to hold referendums backed Māori wards, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards removing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Criticism

This year’s municipal polls recorded the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with less than a third of eligible voters casting a vote, prompting demands for reform.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Councils are able to establish different electoral districts – including countryside seats – without initially mandating a community ballot. The disparate requirements applied to Indigenous representation indicated the administration was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

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

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