🔗 Share this article

The number of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on New Zealand councils is set to be slashed by more than half, after a divisive legislative amendment that forced local governments to put the fate of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which can include one or more elected officials based on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to provide Māori electors the choice to vote for a guaranteed Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Initially, councils were only able to create a Māori ward by first putting it to a public vote in their area. Local populations frequently spent years generating community backing and urging their councils to create Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the former administration allowed local councils to establish a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to subject it to a public vote.

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

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change mandated local authorities that had established a ward under the previous policy to hold decisive public votes concurrently with the municipal polls, which concluded on October 11. Out of 42 local governments participating in the public vote, 17 voted to keep their wards, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

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

Opposition parties nevertheless have criticised the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the current administration has implemented sweeping rollbacks to measures intended to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. 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.

Geographical Splits

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

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

Electoral Participation and Criticism

This year’s local government elections recorded the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with less than a third of eligible voters participating, prompting calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Councils are permitted to establish other types of electoral districts – such as rural wards – without first requiring a public vote. The disparate requirements applied to Indigenous representation suggested the administration was singling out Māori representation.

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

This remark referred to the 17 regions that chose to retain their seats.