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The count of guaranteed seats for Indigenous council members on NZ councils is set to be slashed by more than half, following a controversial legislative amendment that forced municipal councils to submit the future of hard-won Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include multiple councillors depending on demographic data, were created in 2001 to give Māori electors the option to elect a assured Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Initially, councils could only establish a Māori ward by first putting it to a community referendum in their area. Local populations often devoted considerable time generating local support and pushing their councils to establish Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government allowed municipal authorities to set up a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to subject it to a popular ballot.

But in 2024, the current administration overturned the policy, saying communities ought to determine whether to establish Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The new legislation mandated councils that had established a electoral district under Labour’s rules to hold decisive public votes alongside the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Of 42 councils participating in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their wards, and 25 to abolish theirs – showing many regions against guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes represented “a vital step in reinstating community self-determination.”

Opposition parties however have criticised the new policy as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to measures intended to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has said it aims to end “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is committed to enhancing results for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

The results of the referendums were divided down urban-rural lines – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums backed Māori wards, while countryside areas 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.”

Voter Turnout and Concerns

The recent municipal polls registered the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with less than a third of citizens participating, prompting calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Councils are permitted to create other types of electoral districts – including countryside seats – without first requiring a community ballot. The different conditions applied to Indigenous representation suggested the administration was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

“Well, they failed. Many communities have given the government a middle finger response.”

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