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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, after a divisive legislative amendment that forced local governments to submit the future of hard-won Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include multiple councillors depending on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the choice to elect a guaranteed Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Originally, councils could only establish a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a public vote in their area. Communities often spent years building local support and urging their local governments to create Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government allowed local councils to establish a Māori ward without initially mandating them to subject it to a popular ballot.

However, this year, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, saying communities ought to determine whether to establish Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change mandated councils that had created a electoral district under the previous policy to conduct decisive public votes concurrently with the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Of 42 councils taking part in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their wards, and 25 to abolish theirs – showing many regions opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

These outcomes provided “a crucial move in reinstating community self-determination.”

Critics however have condemned the government’s law change as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the current administration has implemented sweeping rollbacks to policies intended to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has stated it aims to end “ethnic-specific” policies, and says it is committed to enhancing results for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

The results of the referendums were divided down city-country divisions – most urban centers required to vote supported Indigenous seats, while rural regions leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Criticism

The recent local government elections registered the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with under one-third of citizens casting a vote, prompting demands for reform.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Councils 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 administration was singling out Māori representation.

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

This statement referred to the 17 regions that chose to retain their wards.