🔗 Share this article Reserved Māori Seats on New Zealand Councils to Be Slashed by Over 50% The count of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on NZ councils will be cut by more than half, following a controversial law change that forced municipal councils to put the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum. Historical Context on Indigenous Representation Māori wards, which may have one or more councillors based on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to elect a guaranteed Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, local governments could only establish a Indigenous seat by first putting it to a public vote in their region. Communities frequently devoted considerable time generating local support and urging their councils to establish Māori wards. Policy Changes and Government Actions To remedy the issue, the former administration permitted local councils to set up a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to subject it to a public vote. But in 2024, the current administration overturned the policy, saying communities should decide whether to establish Māori wards. Referendum Results The coalition’s law change mandated local authorities that had established a ward under Labour’s rules to conduct binding referendums concurrently with the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Of 42 councils participating in the public vote, 17 voted to keep their wards, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – revealing many regions opposed to reserved Indigenous seats. The results represented “a vital step in reinstating community self-determination.” Opposition parties however have criticised the government’s law change as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the coalition government has implemented sweeping rollbacks to measures intended to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has stated it wants to terminate “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen. Geographical Splits The results of the referendums were divided down city-country divisions – most urban centers mandated to hold referendums supported Indigenous seats, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards disestablishing them. “It's unfortunate for the Māori wards that had only just come in – they’re just beginning to hit their stride.” Voter Turnout and Concerns This year’s local government elections recorded the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with less than a third of citizens participating, prompting calls for an overhaul. This approach had been “a mockery”. Comparative Treatment Councils are able to create different wards – such as rural wards – without first requiring a public vote. The different conditions placed on Māori wards suggested the administration was targeting Māori representation. “Well, they failed. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.” This statement referred to the 17 regions that voted to retain their wards.