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The number of guaranteed seats for Māori representatives on NZ local authorities is set to be slashed by more than half, following a divisive law change that forced local governments to put the future of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which can include one or more elected officials based on demographic data, were created in 2001 to give Māori electors the option to vote for a guaranteed Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, councils were only able to create a Indigenous seat by first putting it to a community referendum in their region. Communities frequently devoted considerable time building local support and pushing their local governments to establish Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To address this concern, the previous Labour government allowed local councils to establish a Māori ward without initially mandating them to subject it to a popular ballot.

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

Referendum Results

The new legislation mandated local authorities that had established a ward under Labour’s rules to conduct binding referendums alongside the municipal polls, which concluded on 11 October. Of 42 councils participating in the public vote, 17 decided to retain their wards, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – showing numerous areas opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

The results provided “a crucial move in restoring local democratic control.”

Opposition parties however have condemned the government’s law change as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the coalition government has implemented sweeping rollbacks to measures designed to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has said it wants to terminate “ethnic-specific” approaches, and asserts it is committed to enhancing results for Māori and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the referendums were divided down city-country divisions – six of the seven urban centers required to vote supported Māori wards, while rural regions skewed heavily towards removing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Māori wards that had recently been established – they’re just beginning to hit their stride.”

Electoral Participation and Concerns

The recent local government elections recorded the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with under one-third of citizens participating, prompting calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are able to establish different wards – including countryside seats – without initially mandating a public vote. The different conditions placed on Māori wards suggested the administration was targeting 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 keep their wards.