Reserved Māori Seats on NZ Councils to Be Slashed by More Than Half

The count of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on NZ local authorities is set to be cut by over 50%, following a divisive law change that required municipal councils to submit the future of hard-won Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include multiple councillors depending on demographic data, were established in 2001 to give Māori electors the choice to elect a assured Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Originally, local governments could only create a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a public vote in their area. Communities often devoted considerable time generating local support and pushing their councils to create Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government allowed local councils to establish a Māori ward without first requiring them to subject it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the current administration overturned the policy, saying local residents ought to determine whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The new legislation mandated councils that had created a electoral district under Labour’s rules to conduct decisive public votes concurrently with the local body elections, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments participating in the public vote, 17 decided to keep their seats, and 25 to disestablish theirs – revealing many regions opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

These outcomes provided “a vital step in restoring community self-determination.”

Critics however have condemned the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the coalition government has implemented extensive reversals to policies intended to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has stated it wants to end “race-based” approaches, and asserts it is dedicated to enhancing results for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the referendums were split down city-country divisions – six of the seven cities required to vote backed Māori wards, while rural regions leaned strongly towards removing them.

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

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 participating, prompting demands for reform.

The process had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are permitted to create other types of electoral districts – such as countryside seats – without initially mandating a public vote. The different conditions placed on Māori wards suggested the government was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

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

This remark concerned the 17 areas that chose to retain their seats.