🔗 Share this article Guaranteed Māori Seats on NZ Local Governments to Be Slashed by More Than Half The number of reserved seats for Māori representatives on New Zealand local authorities is set to be slashed by more than half, after a controversial law change that forced municipal councils to put the fate of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum. Historical Context on Indigenous Representation Māori wards, which may have one or more councillors based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Māori electors the choice to vote for a assured Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, local governments were only able to establish a Indigenous seat by first putting it to a public vote in their region. Local populations often spent years generating local support and pushing their local governments to create Indigenous representation. Legislative Shifts and Government Actions To address this concern, the previous Labour government allowed local councils to set up a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to subject it to a public vote. But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, saying communities ought to determine whether to introduce Indigenous representation. Referendum Results The coalition’s law change required local authorities that had created a electoral district under Labour’s rules to conduct binding referendums alongside the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the referendum, 17 decided to retain their seats, and 25 to abolish theirs – showing many regions against guaranteed Māori representation. The results represented “a crucial move in restoring local democratic control.” Critics nevertheless have criticised the new policy as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has ushered in extensive reversals to measures intended to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has stated it aims to end “race-based” policies, and asserts it is committed to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen. Urban-Rural Divide The results of the referendums were divided down urban-rural lines – six of the seven urban centers mandated to hold referendums backed Māori wards, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards disestablishing them. “It’s a real shame for the Māori wards that had only just come in – they’re only just starting to hit their stride.” Electoral Participation and Criticism The recent local government elections recorded the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with less than a third of eligible voters casting a vote, leading to demands for reform. This approach had been “a mockery”. Comparative Treatment Councils are permitted to create other types of wards – such as countryside seats – without first requiring a community ballot. The disparate requirements placed on Indigenous representation suggested the government was singling out Indigenous inclusion. “Well, they failed. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.” This statement referred to the 17 regions that voted to retain their wards.