Reserved Māori Seats on New Zealand Councils to Be Slashed by Over 50%

The number of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on NZ councils will be slashed by more than half, following a controversial legislative amendment that forced local governments to submit the fate of hard-won Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which can include multiple councillors based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to elect a guaranteed Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, local governments were only able to create a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a community referendum in their area. Local populations frequently devoted considerable time generating community backing and pushing their local governments to establish Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the former administration permitted municipal authorities to set up a Māori ward without initially mandating them to put it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, saying communities should decide whether to introduce Māori wards.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change required local authorities that had created a electoral district under Labour’s rules to conduct binding referendums alongside the municipal polls, 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 provided “a vital step in reinstating local democratic control.”

Critics however have criticised the government’s law change as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the current administration has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to measures designed to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has said it aims to end “ethnic-specific” approaches, and asserts it is committed to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the public votes were split down city-country divisions – six of the seven urban centers mandated to hold referendums supported Indigenous seats, while rural regions skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Concerns

This year’s local government elections registered the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with under one-third of citizens casting a vote, leading to demands for reform.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are able to establish other types of electoral districts – such as rural wards – without first requiring a public vote. The different conditions placed on Māori wards indicated the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

“Well, they failed. Many communities have expressed strong opposition.”

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