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The number of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on New Zealand councils is set to be cut by over 50%, following a divisive law change that required local governments to submit the fate of hard-won Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which can include one or more councillors depending on demographic data, were established in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the option to elect a assured Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Originally, councils could only create a Indigenous seat by initially putting it to a public vote in their area. Communities often devoted considerable time generating local support and pushing their local governments to create Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the former administration permitted municipal authorities to establish a Māori ward without first requiring them to subject it to a popular ballot.

But in 2024, the current administration reversed the change, stating local residents ought to determine whether to establish Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The new legislation mandated local authorities that had created a ward under Labour’s rules to conduct binding referendums concurrently with the local body elections, which concluded on October 11. Of 42 councils taking part in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their wards, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – revealing many regions opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

These outcomes represented “a crucial move in restoring local democratic control.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have condemned the new policy as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the current administration has implemented extensive reversals to measures intended to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has stated it aims to terminate “race-based” policies, and asserts it is dedicated to enhancing results for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the referendums were split down urban-rural lines – most urban centers mandated to hold referendums backed Māori wards, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Māori wards that had only just come in – they’re only just starting to hit their stride.”

Electoral Participation and Concerns

This year’s municipal polls recorded the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with less than a third of eligible voters participating, prompting demands for reform.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are able to create different wards – such as countryside seats – without initially mandating a community ballot. The different conditions applied to Māori wards suggested the administration was targeting Māori representation.

“Well, they failed. Numerous localities have expressed strong opposition.”

This statement referred to the 17 areas that voted to retain their seats.