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The count of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on New Zealand local authorities will be cut by more than half, after a controversial law change that required municipal councils to put the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which can include multiple councillors based on demographic data, were created in 2001 to provide Māori electors the option to elect a assured Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Initially, local governments were only able to establish a Indigenous seat by initially submitting it to a public vote in their area. Local populations frequently spent years generating community backing and pushing their local governments to establish Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the former administration permitted municipal authorities to establish a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to subject it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, stating local residents should decide whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The new legislation mandated councils that had established a electoral district under the previous policy to conduct decisive public votes concurrently with the municipal polls, which concluded on 11 October. Of 42 councils participating in the referendum, 17 voted to retain their wards, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – showing numerous areas opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

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

Critics however have criticised the new policy as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the current administration has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to policies intended to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has said it aims to end “race-based” approaches, and says it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the public votes 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 Indigenous seats 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 over three decades, with under one-third of eligible voters casting a vote, prompting calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Councils are able to establish other types of wards – including rural wards – without first requiring a public vote. The different conditions applied to Indigenous representation suggested the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

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

This remark concerned the 17 regions that voted to retain their seats.