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The number of reserved positions 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 put the future of hard-won Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which can include multiple councillors depending on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to provide Māori electors the choice to vote for a guaranteed Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, local governments were only able to establish a Indigenous seat by initially submitting it to a community referendum in their area. Local populations frequently spent years building community backing and urging their councils to create Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To address this concern, the previous Labour government allowed municipal authorities to set up a Māori ward without initially mandating them to put it to a popular ballot.

However, this year, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, saying communities should decide whether to introduce Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required local authorities that had established a electoral district under Labour’s rules to hold decisive public votes concurrently with the local body elections, which concluded on 11 October. Of 42 councils taking part in the referendum, 17 voted to keep their seats, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas against guaranteed Māori representation.

The results represented “a crucial move in restoring local democratic control.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have condemned the new policy as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the current administration has implemented sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has stated it aims to end “ethnic-specific” policies, and asserts it is committed to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the public votes were divided down city-country divisions – most urban centers required to vote backed Māori wards, while rural regions leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Māori wards that had only just come in – they’re just beginning to find their footing.”

Voter Turnout and Criticism

This year’s municipal polls registered the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with under one-third of citizens casting a vote, prompting calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are able to establish other types of wards – such as countryside seats – without first requiring a community ballot. The different conditions placed on Indigenous representation indicated the government was targeting Māori representation.

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

This remark referred to the 17 regions that voted to retain their wards.