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The number of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on New Zealand local authorities will be slashed by more than half, following a divisive legislative amendment that required municipal councils to submit the future of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include multiple elected officials depending on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to give Māori electors the choice to elect a assured Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Originally, councils could only create a Māori ward by first submitting it to a public vote in their area. Communities often spent years generating community backing and pushing their local governments to create Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the previous Labour government allowed local councils to set up a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to put it to a popular ballot.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, stating local residents ought to determine whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The new legislation mandated local authorities that had created a ward under Labour’s rules to conduct decisive public votes concurrently with the local body elections, which concluded on October 11. Out of 42 local governments participating in the public vote, 17 decided to retain their wards, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas against reserved Indigenous seats.

These outcomes provided “a crucial move in reinstating local democratic control.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have criticised the new policy as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the coalition government has ushered in extensive reversals to measures designed to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it aims to end “race-based” policies, and says it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the referendums were split down urban-rural lines – six of the seven cities required to vote supported Māori wards, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Criticism

The recent municipal polls recorded the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with under one-third of eligible voters participating, leading to calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Councils are able to establish other types of wards – such as countryside seats – without first requiring a public vote. The different conditions applied to Māori wards suggested the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

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

This statement concerned the 17 regions that voted to keep their seats.