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The count of reserved seats for Indigenous council members on NZ councils is set to be cut by over 50%, after a controversial law change that required local governments to submit the future of hard-won Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have multiple elected officials depending on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to provide Māori electors the choice to vote for a guaranteed Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Originally, local governments were only able to create a Indigenous seat by first putting it to a public vote in their region. Local populations frequently devoted considerable time generating community backing and urging their local governments to create Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government permitted local councils to set up a Māori ward without first requiring them to put it to a popular ballot.

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

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required local authorities that had established a ward under the previous policy to conduct binding referendums alongside the local body elections, which ended on October 11. Out of 42 local governments participating in the public vote, 17 voted to keep their seats, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas against guaranteed Māori representation.

The results provided “a vital step in restoring community self-determination.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have criticised the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the current administration has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has stated it aims to terminate “ethnic-specific” policies, and asserts it is committed to enhancing results for Māori and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the public votes were split down city-country divisions – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums backed Indigenous seats, while rural regions skewed heavily towards removing them.

“It’s a real shame for the Indigenous seats that had only just come in – they’re just beginning to hit their stride.”

Voter Turnout and Criticism

This year’s local government elections recorded the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with less than a third of citizens participating, leading to demands for reform.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are able to create other types of electoral districts – including rural wards – without first requiring a public vote. The different conditions applied to Indigenous representation indicated the administration was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

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

This statement concerned the 17 areas that voted to retain their wards.