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The number of guaranteed positions for Māori representatives on New Zealand councils will be slashed by more than half, after a divisive law change that forced local governments to put the future of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which may have multiple councillors based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Māori electors the option to elect a guaranteed Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Initially, local governments could only establish a Māori ward by initially putting it to a community referendum in their region. Communities frequently spent years building community backing and urging their councils to create Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the previous Labour government permitted municipal authorities to establish 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 communities should decide whether to introduce Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The new legislation mandated local authorities that had established a ward under Labour’s rules to conduct decisive public votes alongside the local body elections, which ended on 11 October. Of 42 councils taking part in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their wards, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – revealing many regions opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

The results provided “a vital step in restoring local democratic control.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have criticised the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to measures designed to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has said it aims to terminate “ethnic-specific” policies, and says it is dedicated to enhancing results for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the public votes were split down urban-rural lines – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums backed Indigenous seats, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards removing 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 Concerns

The recent local government elections recorded the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with under one-third of eligible voters casting a vote, prompting calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Councils are permitted to create different electoral districts – such as rural wards – without first requiring a community ballot. The disparate requirements applied to Indigenous representation suggested the government was singling out Māori representation.

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

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