🔗 Share this article Guaranteed Indigenous Seats on New Zealand Councils to Be Slashed by Over 50% The number of reserved positions for Māori representatives on NZ councils is set to be cut by more than half, after a divisive legislative amendment that forced local governments to submit the fate of hard-won Indigenous wards to a popular referendum. Background Information on Māori Wards Indigenous electoral districts, which may have one or more councillors depending on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the choice to elect a guaranteed Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Initially, councils were only able to establish a Māori ward by initially putting it to a community referendum in their area. Local populations frequently spent years generating local support and urging 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 initially mandating them to subject it to a public vote. But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, saying communities ought to determine whether to introduce Māori wards. Voting Outcomes The new legislation required local authorities that had established a electoral district under the previous policy to conduct binding referendums alongside the municipal polls, which concluded on 11 October. Of 42 councils taking part in the referendum, 17 voted to retain their seats, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – revealing many regions against reserved Indigenous seats. These outcomes provided “a crucial move in reinstating local democratic control.” Opposition parties nevertheless have criticised the new policy as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the current administration has ushered in extensive reversals to measures intended to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has said it wants to end “ethnic-specific” approaches, and asserts it is committed to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders. Urban-Rural Divide Outcomes of the public votes were split down urban-rural lines – six of the seven urban centers required to vote backed Māori wards, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards disestablishing them. “It's unfortunate for the Māori wards that had recently been established – they’re just beginning to hit their stride.” Electoral Participation and Concerns The recent municipal polls recorded the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with under one-third of eligible voters participating, leading to calls for an overhaul. The process had been “a mockery”. Differential Standards Councils are able to create other types of wards – such as countryside seats – without initially mandating a community ballot. The different conditions placed on Indigenous representation suggested the government was singling out Indigenous inclusion. “Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Numerous localities have expressed strong opposition.” This remark referred to the 17 regions that chose to retain their wards.