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The number of reserved seats for Māori representatives on New Zealand councils is set to be slashed by more than half, after a divisive law change that required local governments to submit the future of hard-earned Māori seats 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 Indigenous voters the choice to elect a assured Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, local governments were only able to establish a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a community referendum in their region. Local populations often spent years generating community backing and pushing their councils to establish Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To address this concern, the previous Labour government allowed local councils to set up a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to put it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the current administration reversed the change, saying local residents should decide whether to introduce Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required local authorities that had created a ward under Labour’s rules to conduct decisive public votes alongside the local body elections, which concluded on 11 October. Of 42 councils participating in the public vote, 17 voted to keep their seats, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – showing many regions against reserved Indigenous seats.

The results represented “a vital step in reinstating community self-determination.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have condemned the new policy as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to measures intended to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has stated it wants to terminate “race-based” approaches, and says it is committed to enhancing results for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

The results of the public votes were divided down city-country divisions – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums supported Māori wards, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards removing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Concerns

The recent municipal polls recorded the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with less than a third of eligible voters participating, leading to calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Councils are able to create other types of electoral districts – including countryside seats – without initially mandating a public vote. The disparate requirements applied to Indigenous representation suggested the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Numerous localities have expressed strong opposition.”

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