🔗 Share this article Reserved Māori Seats on New Zealand Councils to Be Reduced by More Than Half The number of reserved positions for Māori representatives on New Zealand councils is set to be slashed by more than half, after a divisive law change that required local governments to submit the future of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum. Historical Context on Māori Wards Māori wards, which may have one or more councillors depending on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to provide Māori electors the choice to vote for a guaranteed Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Initially, local governments were only able to establish a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a community referendum in their area. Communities frequently devoted considerable time building community backing and pushing their local governments to establish Indigenous representation. Legislative Shifts and Government Actions To address this concern, the former administration allowed municipal authorities to set up a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to subject it to a public vote. But in 2024, the current administration overturned the policy, stating local residents should decide whether to introduce Indigenous representation. Voting Outcomes The coalition’s law change mandated local authorities that had created a electoral district under Labour’s rules 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 public vote, 17 voted to keep their seats, and 25 to disestablish theirs – showing many regions opposed to reserved Indigenous seats. These outcomes provided “a vital step in reinstating community self-determination.” Opposition parties however have condemned the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the current administration has implemented sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it wants to end “race-based” approaches, and says it is committed to enhancing results for Māori and every citizen. Urban-Rural Divide The results of the public votes were divided down urban-rural lines – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums backed Indigenous seats, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards disestablishing them. “It’s a real shame for the Māori wards that had recently been established – they’re only just starting to hit their stride.” Electoral Participation and Criticism The recent local government elections registered the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with under one-third of eligible voters participating, leading to demands for reform. The process had been “a farce”. Comparative Treatment Councils are able to create other types of wards – including rural wards – without initially mandating a public vote. The disparate requirements applied to Māori wards suggested the administration was targeting Māori representation. “Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.” This remark concerned the 17 areas that voted to retain their wards.