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The number of reserved seats for Indigenous council members on NZ local authorities is set to be slashed by more than half, following a controversial law change that required municipal councils to put the future of hard-won Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which may have one or more elected officials depending on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the choice to elect a guaranteed Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Originally, local governments were only able to create a Māori ward by first putting it to a community referendum in their area. Communities often devoted considerable time building local support and pushing their local governments to establish Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the former administration permitted local councils to set up a Māori ward without initially mandating them to subject it to a public vote.

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

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change mandated councils that had created a ward under Labour’s rules to hold decisive public votes concurrently with the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the referendum, 17 voted to keep their seats, and 25 to abolish theirs – showing numerous areas opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

The results represented “a vital step in reinstating local democratic control.”

Critics however have criticised the new policy as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has implemented sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it wants to end “ethnic-specific” policies, and asserts it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the public votes were split down urban-rural lines – six of the seven urban centers required to vote backed Indigenous seats, 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 hit their stride.”

Electoral Participation and Concerns

The recent municipal polls registered the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with less than a third of eligible voters participating, prompting calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are able to create other types of electoral districts – including rural wards – without first requiring a community ballot. The different conditions placed on Māori wards suggested the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

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

This remark referred to the 17 regions that chose to keep their seats.