🔗 Share this article

The number of guaranteed seats for Indigenous council members on NZ councils is set to be slashed by over 50%, following a controversial legislative amendment that required municipal councils to put the future of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have one or more councillors depending on demographic data, were created in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the option to vote for a assured Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, councils could only establish a Māori ward by initially putting it to a public vote in their region. Local populations frequently devoted considerable time generating local support and urging 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, saying communities should decide whether to introduce Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required councils that had established a ward under the previous policy to conduct decisive public votes concurrently with the local body elections, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments participating in the referendum, 17 decided to retain their wards, and 25 to disestablish theirs – revealing many regions opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

The results represented “a crucial move in restoring community self-determination.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have criticised the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the coalition government has implemented sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has stated it wants to terminate “ethnic-specific” policies, and asserts it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

The results of the referendums were split down city-country divisions – most cities mandated to hold referendums supported Indigenous seats, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Criticism

The recent municipal polls registered the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with under one-third of citizens participating, leading to calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are able to establish other types of electoral districts – including countryside seats – without first requiring a public vote. The disparate requirements applied to Indigenous representation suggested the government was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

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

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