🔗 Share this article

The count of guaranteed seats for Māori representatives on New Zealand councils will be slashed by over 50%, following a divisive law change that required municipal councils to put the future of hard-won Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which may have one or more councillors depending on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Māori electors the choice to vote for a guaranteed Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, local governments could only create a Māori ward by initially putting it to a community referendum in their area. Local populations often spent years generating community backing and pushing their councils to create Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the former administration permitted local councils to set up a Māori ward without initially mandating them to subject it to a popular ballot.

But in 2024, the current administration reversed the change, stating communities should decide whether to introduce Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change mandated councils that had created a electoral district under Labour’s rules to hold binding referendums concurrently with the municipal polls, which concluded on October 11. Of 42 councils taking part in the public vote, 17 voted to retain their wards, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – showing numerous areas opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes provided “a vital step in restoring community self-determination.”

Opposition parties however have condemned the new policy as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has stated it aims to end “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is dedicated to enhancing results for Māori and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the referendums were divided down urban-rural lines – most urban centers mandated to hold referendums supported Indigenous seats, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

“It’s a real shame for the Indigenous seats that had recently been established – they’re only just starting to find their footing.”

Electoral Participation and Criticism

This year’s local government elections registered the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with less than a third of citizens participating, prompting calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Councils are able to create other types of electoral districts – such as rural wards – without initially mandating a public vote. The disparate requirements placed on Māori wards suggested the administration was targeting Māori representation.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Many communities have expressed strong opposition.”

This remark concerned the 17 areas that chose to keep their seats.