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The number of guaranteed seats for Indigenous council members on NZ councils will be slashed by over 50%, following a divisive law change that required municipal councils to submit the future of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include one or more councillors depending on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to provide Māori electors the choice to elect a guaranteed Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, local governments were only able to create a Māori ward by first putting it to a community referendum in their region. Communities frequently devoted considerable time generating local support and pushing their councils to establish Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government permitted municipal authorities to set up a Māori ward without first requiring them to subject it to a popular ballot.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, saying local residents ought to determine whether to establish Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required councils that had established a electoral district under the previous policy to hold binding referendums concurrently with the municipal polls, which concluded on 11 October. Of 42 councils participating in the public vote, 17 decided to retain their seats, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes represented “a vital step in restoring local democratic control.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have condemned the new policy as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the current administration has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to policies intended to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has stated it aims to end “ethnic-specific” policies, and says it is committed to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the referendums were divided down city-country divisions – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums backed Indigenous seats, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards removing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Concerns

This year’s municipal polls registered the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with less than a third of eligible voters participating, prompting calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are permitted to establish other types of electoral districts – including countryside seats – without first requiring a public vote. The different conditions placed on Indigenous representation indicated the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.”

This remark concerned the 17 regions that voted to retain their seats.