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The number of reserved seats for Indigenous council members on NZ local authorities will be slashed by more than half, after a controversial legislative amendment that required municipal councils to submit the fate of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include one or more elected officials based on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to give Māori electors the choice to vote for a guaranteed Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, local governments were only able to establish a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a public vote in their area. Communities often spent years building local support and urging their local governments to create Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government permitted municipal authorities to set up a Māori ward without first requiring them to subject it to a popular ballot.

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

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required councils that had created a electoral district under Labour’s rules to hold binding referendums concurrently with the local body elections, which concluded on October 11. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the referendum, 17 voted to keep their seats, and 25 to disestablish theirs – revealing many regions opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

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

Critics nevertheless have criticised the government’s law change as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the coalition government has ushered in extensive reversals to measures intended to improve 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 Māori and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the referendums were split down urban-rural lines – six of the seven urban centers mandated to hold referendums supported Indigenous seats, while rural regions skewed heavily towards removing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Criticism

This year’s municipal polls recorded the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with under one-third of citizens casting a vote, leading to demands for reform.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are able to create different wards – such as rural wards – without first requiring a community ballot. The disparate requirements placed on Māori wards suggested the administration was singling out Māori representation.

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

This remark referred to the 17 areas that voted to keep their seats.