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The number of guaranteed positions for Māori representatives on NZ local authorities will be slashed by over 50%, following a controversial law change that forced municipal councils to put the fate of hard-won Māori seats to a public vote.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include multiple councillors depending on demographic data, were created in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the choice to vote for a guaranteed Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Originally, local governments were only able to establish a Indigenous seat by initially submitting it to a community referendum in their region. Communities often spent years building local support and urging their councils to create Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government allowed local councils to set up a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to put it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, saying communities ought to determine whether to establish Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The new legislation required councils that had established a ward under Labour’s rules to conduct binding referendums alongside the local body elections, which concluded on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments participating in the referendum, 17 voted to keep their seats, and 25 to disestablish theirs – revealing many regions against guaranteed Māori representation.

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

Opposition parties however have criticised the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to policies intended to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has said it wants to terminate “ethnic-specific” approaches, and asserts it is committed to enhancing results for Māori and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the referendums were divided down urban-rural lines – six of the seven urban centers required to vote supported Māori wards, while rural regions 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 Concerns

The recent local government elections registered the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with under one-third of eligible voters participating, leading to demands for reform.

The process had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are permitted to establish other types of wards – such as rural wards – without initially mandating a community ballot. The different conditions placed on Indigenous representation suggested the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

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

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