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The number of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on New Zealand councils will be slashed by over 50%, after a controversial law change that required local governments to submit the fate of hard-won Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include multiple elected officials depending on demographic data, were created in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to vote for a guaranteed Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, councils were only able to create a Māori ward by first putting it to a community referendum in their region. Local populations frequently spent years generating community backing and pushing their councils to create Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government permitted municipal authorities to set up a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to subject it to a popular ballot.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, saying local residents ought to determine whether to introduce Māori wards.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change mandated local authorities that had created a electoral district under the previous policy to conduct decisive public votes alongside the local body elections, which concluded on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the public vote, 17 voted to retain their seats, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – showing many regions against guaranteed Māori representation.

The results provided “a vital step in reinstating community self-determination.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have condemned the new policy as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has implemented extensive reversals to policies intended to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has stated it aims to end “race-based” approaches, and says it is committed to enhancing results for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the public votes were divided down city-country divisions – six of the seven urban centers mandated to hold referendums supported Indigenous seats, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Indigenous seats that had only just come in – they’re only just starting to hit their stride.”

Electoral Participation and Concerns

The recent municipal polls registered the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with under one-third of eligible voters participating, leading to demands for reform.

The process had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are permitted to create other types of electoral districts – including countryside seats – without first requiring a public vote. The different conditions placed on Māori wards indicated the government was singling out Māori representation.

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

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