🔗 Share this article

The number of guaranteed positions for Māori representatives on New Zealand councils will be slashed by more than half, after a controversial legislative amendment that forced local governments to put the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which may have one or more councillors based on demographic data, were created in 2001 to provide Māori electors the option to elect a guaranteed Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, local governments were only able to create a Indigenous seat by initially putting it to a community referendum in their region. Local populations frequently spent years generating local support and urging their councils to create Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the former administration allowed municipal authorities to establish a Māori ward without first requiring them to put it to a popular ballot.

But in 2024, the current administration overturned the policy, saying communities ought to determine whether to introduce Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change mandated councils that had created a electoral district under the previous policy to hold binding referendums alongside the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the public vote, 17 decided to keep their seats, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – revealing many regions opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes represented “a crucial move in reinstating community self-determination.”

Critics nevertheless have condemned the new policy as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has stated it wants to end “race-based” approaches, and says it is committed to enhancing results for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

The results of the public votes were divided down urban-rural lines – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums backed Māori wards, while rural regions leaned strongly towards removing them.

“It’s a real shame for the Indigenous seats that had only just come in – they’re just beginning to hit their stride.”

Electoral Participation and Criticism

The recent local government elections recorded the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with under one-third of eligible voters casting a vote, leading to calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are permitted to create other types of wards – including countryside seats – without initially mandating a community ballot. The disparate requirements applied to Māori wards indicated the administration was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

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

This statement referred to the 17 regions that voted to retain their seats.