🔗 Share this article Guaranteed Indigenous Council Positions on NZ Councils to Be Slashed by Over 50% The count of reserved seats for Māori representatives on New Zealand councils is set to be slashed by more than half, after a divisive law change that forced municipal councils to put the fate of hard-won Indigenous wards to a public vote. Historical Context on Māori Wards Indigenous electoral districts, which may have one or more councillors based on demographic data, were created in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the choice to vote for a guaranteed Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Originally, councils could only create a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a public vote in their region. Communities frequently devoted considerable time building community backing and pushing their councils to establish Indigenous representation. Policy Changes and Government Actions To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government allowed local councils to set up a Māori ward without first requiring them to subject it to a popular ballot. But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, stating local residents should decide whether to establish Indigenous representation. 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 local body elections, which concluded on October 11. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the referendum, 17 voted to retain their seats, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas opposed to reserved Indigenous seats. The results provided “a crucial move in restoring local democratic control.” Opposition parties however have condemned the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the coalition government has implemented sweeping rollbacks to policies intended to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it aims to end “ethnic-specific” policies, and says it is committed to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen. Urban-Rural Divide Outcomes of the referendums were divided down city-country divisions – most cities mandated to hold referendums backed Māori wards, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards disestablishing them. “It's unfortunate for the Indigenous seats that had only just come in – they’re just beginning to hit their stride.” Voter Turnout and Criticism The recent municipal polls registered the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with less than a third of citizens casting a vote, leading to demands for reform. This approach had been “a farce”. Differential Standards Councils are able to create different electoral districts – such as rural wards – without first requiring a public vote. The different conditions applied to Māori wards indicated the administration was targeting Māori representation. “Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.” This remark referred to the 17 regions that chose to retain their seats.