🔗 Share this article Guaranteed Indigenous Seats on New Zealand Local Governments to Be Reduced by More Than Half The number of reserved seats for Indigenous council members on NZ councils is set to be slashed by more than half, after a divisive law change that required local governments to submit the fate of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a public vote. Historical Context 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, local governments were only able to create a Indigenous seat by first submitting it to a community referendum in their area. Communities often spent years generating community backing and pushing their local governments to establish Indigenous representation. Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions To address this concern, the previous Labour government allowed local councils to establish a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to put it to a public vote. But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, saying local residents should decide whether to establish Indigenous representation. Voting Outcomes The new legislation required local authorities that had established a ward under Labour’s rules to hold binding referendums alongside the municipal polls, which ended on October 11. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the referendum, 17 voted to retain their seats, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – showing many regions opposed to guaranteed Māori representation. The results provided “a crucial move in reinstating local democratic control.” Critics however have condemned the new policy as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the current administration has implemented sweeping rollbacks to measures designed to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has said it wants to end “ethnic-specific” policies, and says it is committed to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders. Urban-Rural Divide The results of the public votes were divided down city-country divisions – six of the seven urban centers mandated to hold referendums supported Indigenous seats, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards disestablishing them. “It’s a real shame for the Indigenous seats that had only just come in – they’re just beginning to hit their stride.” Electoral Participation and Criticism The recent municipal polls registered the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with under one-third of citizens participating, leading to calls for an overhaul. The process had been “a mockery”. Differential Standards Councils are able to establish different electoral districts – such as countryside seats – without initially mandating a community ballot. The disparate requirements placed on Indigenous representation indicated the government was targeting Māori representation. “Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Numerous localities have expressed strong opposition.” This statement referred to the 17 areas that chose to retain their seats.