🔗 Share this article Reserved Māori Seats on NZ Local Governments to Be Reduced by More Than Half The number of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on New Zealand local authorities is set to be cut by over 50%, following a divisive law change that forced local governments to submit the fate of hard-won Māori seats to a popular referendum. Historical Context on Indigenous Representation Māori wards, which can include multiple elected officials based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to give Māori electors the choice to elect a guaranteed Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Initially, councils were only able to create a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a community referendum in their area. Communities often spent years generating community backing and urging their councils to establish Indigenous representation. Policy Changes and Government Actions To address this concern, the previous Labour government permitted municipal authorities to establish a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to subject it to a public vote. But in 2024, the current administration reversed the change, saying local residents should decide whether to introduce Māori wards. Referendum Results The coalition’s law change required councils that had created a ward under the previous policy to conduct decisive public votes concurrently with the local body elections, which ended on October 11. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their seats, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing many regions opposed to reserved Indigenous seats. The results represented “a crucial move in reinstating community self-determination.” Opposition parties however have criticised the new policy as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has implemented extensive reversals to policies intended to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has stated it wants to terminate “ethnic-specific” approaches, and asserts it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders. Geographical Splits Outcomes of the public votes were divided down city-country divisions – most urban centers required to vote supported Māori wards, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards removing them. “It’s a real shame for the Indigenous seats that had only just come in – they’re just beginning to find their footing.” Electoral Participation and Concerns This year’s local government elections registered the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with less than a third of citizens participating, leading to calls for an overhaul. This approach had been “a mockery”. Differential Standards Local governments are permitted to create other types of electoral districts – such as countryside seats – without first requiring a community ballot. The different conditions applied to Māori wards indicated the government was singling out Indigenous inclusion. “Well, they failed. Numerous localities have expressed strong opposition.” This remark referred to the 17 regions that chose to keep their seats.