🔗 Share this article Guaranteed Māori Seats on New Zealand Councils to Be Slashed by More Than Half The number of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on NZ local authorities will be slashed by over 50%, following a controversial legislative amendment that required municipal councils to put the fate of hard-won Indigenous wards to a popular referendum. Historical Context on Māori Wards Māori wards, which can include one or more councillors based on demographic data, were created in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to vote for a assured Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, local governments were only able to create a Māori ward by first submitting it to a public vote in their region. Local populations frequently spent years generating community backing and pushing their councils to establish Māori wards. Policy Changes and Government Actions To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government permitted municipal authorities to establish a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to put it to a popular ballot. But in 2024, the current administration overturned the policy, stating communities ought to determine whether to introduce Indigenous representation. Referendum Results The new legislation required local authorities that had created a electoral district under Labour’s rules to hold decisive public votes alongside the municipal polls, which ended on October 11. Of 42 councils participating in the referendum, 17 decided to retain their wards, and 25 to disestablish theirs – showing numerous areas opposed to guaranteed Māori representation. The results represented “a crucial move in restoring local democratic control.” Critics however have criticised the new policy as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the coalition government has ushered in extensive reversals to measures intended to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has said it wants to end “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 referendums were divided down urban-rural lines – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums backed Māori wards, while rural regions skewed heavily towards disestablishing 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 Criticism This year’s municipal polls recorded the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with under one-third of eligible voters casting a vote, prompting demands for reform. This approach had been “a farce”. Differential Standards Local governments are able to create different electoral districts – such as countryside seats – without first requiring a public vote. The disparate requirements applied to Indigenous representation indicated the administration was targeting Māori representation. “Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.” This statement concerned the 17 areas that voted to keep their wards.