🔗 Share this article

The number of guaranteed seats for Māori representatives on NZ councils is set to be slashed by more than half, after a controversial legislative amendment that forced municipal councils to put the fate of hard-won Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which can include multiple elected officials depending on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the option to vote for a assured Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, councils were only able to establish a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a public vote in their area. Communities frequently spent years generating local support and pushing their councils to create Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the former administration allowed local councils to set up a Māori ward without first requiring them to put it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, saying communities ought to determine whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The new legislation required councils that had created a ward under the previous policy to hold binding referendums concurrently with the local body elections, which concluded on 11 October. Of 42 councils participating in the referendum, 17 decided to retain their seats, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – revealing many regions opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

These outcomes represented “a vital step in reinstating local democratic control.”

Critics nevertheless have condemned the new policy as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the current administration has ushered in extensive reversals to policies intended to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has said it aims to terminate “ethnic-specific” policies, and asserts it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the public votes were split down city-country divisions – most cities required to vote backed Māori wards, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Concerns

This year’s municipal polls recorded the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with less than a third of citizens participating, leading to demands for reform.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Councils are permitted to establish other types of wards – including rural wards – without first requiring a public vote. The disparate requirements applied to Indigenous representation indicated the government was singling out Māori representation.

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

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