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The count of reserved seats for Indigenous council members on New Zealand councils will be slashed by more than half, after a controversial law change that forced local governments to put the future of hard-won Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which may have one or more elected officials based on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the option to vote for a guaranteed Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Initially, councils were only able to establish a Māori ward by initially putting it to a public vote in their region. Local populations often devoted considerable time generating community backing and pushing their local governments to establish Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To address this concern, the former administration permitted local councils to establish a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to subject it to a popular ballot.

However, this year, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, saying local residents should decide whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The new legislation mandated councils that had established a electoral district under the previous policy to hold binding referendums alongside the municipal polls, which concluded on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the public vote, 17 voted to retain their seats, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – showing many regions against reserved Indigenous seats.

These outcomes provided “a vital step in restoring local democratic control.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have condemned the new policy as “discriminatory” 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. Officials has said it wants to terminate “race-based” approaches, and asserts it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

The results of the referendums were divided down urban-rural lines – most urban centers mandated to hold referendums backed Indigenous seats, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Concerns

This year’s municipal polls recorded the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with under one-third of eligible voters participating, prompting calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are able to establish different wards – such as countryside seats – without first requiring a public vote. The disparate requirements applied to Indigenous representation indicated the government was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

“Well, they failed. Many communities have given the government a middle finger response.”

This statement referred to the 17 regions that voted to retain their wards.