🔗 Share this article

The count of reserved positions for Māori representatives on New Zealand local authorities will be slashed by more than half, after a controversial law change that required local governments to submit the future of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which may have one or more councillors depending on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the option to elect a guaranteed Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, councils were only able to create a Indigenous seat by initially putting it to a community referendum in their area. Communities often spent years building community backing and pushing their local governments to establish Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To address this concern, the former administration permitted local councils to establish a Māori ward without initially mandating them to put it to a public vote.

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

Voting Outcomes

The new legislation required local authorities that had created a ward under Labour’s rules to conduct decisive public votes concurrently with the local body elections, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the referendum, 17 voted to retain their wards, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – revealing many regions against guaranteed Māori representation.

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

Opposition parties however have criticised the new policy as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the current administration has implemented sweeping rollbacks to policies intended to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it aims to end “race-based” approaches, and says it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the referendums were divided down city-country divisions – most cities required to vote supported Māori wards, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards removing them.

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

Electoral Participation and Criticism

This year’s municipal polls recorded the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with less than a third of citizens participating, leading to demands for reform.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are permitted to establish other types of wards – including rural wards – without initially mandating a community ballot. The different conditions applied to Indigenous representation indicated the administration was targeting Māori representation.

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

This statement referred to the 17 regions that chose to retain their wards.