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The count of reserved positions for Māori representatives on NZ local authorities will be slashed by more than half, following a divisive law change that required municipal councils to submit the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have multiple elected officials based on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to give Māori electors the option to elect a assured Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Originally, councils could only create a Indigenous seat by first putting it to a community referendum in their region. Local populations often spent years generating community backing and pushing their local governments to create Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the former administration permitted municipal authorities to set up a Māori ward without initially mandating them to put it to a popular ballot.

However, this year, the current administration reversed the change, saying local residents should decide whether to introduce Māori wards.

Voting Outcomes

The new legislation required local authorities that had created a electoral district under the previous policy to hold binding referendums alongside the local body elections, which concluded on 11 October. Of 42 councils participating in the referendum, 17 decided to retain their seats, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas against reserved Indigenous seats.

The results represented “a crucial move in reinstating community self-determination.”

Critics nevertheless have condemned the government’s law change as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the current administration has implemented extensive reversals to measures designed to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has said it wants to end “race-based” approaches, and asserts it is committed to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

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

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

Voter Turnout and Criticism

This year’s local government elections registered the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with under one-third of eligible voters casting a vote, prompting calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are permitted to create other types of wards – including countryside seats – without initially mandating a public vote. 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 remark referred to the 17 areas that voted to keep their seats.