🔗 Share this article Reserved Indigenous Council Positions on New Zealand Councils to Be Slashed by Over 50% The number of guaranteed seats for Indigenous council members on NZ local authorities is set to be cut by more than half, following a controversial law change that forced local governments to put the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a public vote. Background Information on Indigenous Representation Indigenous electoral districts, which may have multiple elected officials based on demographic data, were created in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to vote for a assured Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Initially, councils were only able to establish a Indigenous seat by first submitting it to a community referendum in their area. Communities frequently spent years building local support and pushing their local governments to create Māori wards. Legislative Shifts and Government Actions To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government allowed local councils to set up a Māori ward without initially mandating them to subject it to a public vote. But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, saying local residents ought to determine whether to establish Indigenous representation. Referendum Results The new legislation mandated councils that had created a electoral district under the previous policy to conduct decisive public votes alongside the local body elections, which ended on October 11. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the public vote, 17 decided to retain their seats, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – showing numerous areas opposed to guaranteed Māori representation. The results represented “a crucial move in reinstating community self-determination.” Opposition parties however have criticised the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the current administration has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to measures intended to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has stated it wants to end “race-based” policies, and asserts it is dedicated to enhancing results for Indigenous people and every citizen. Urban-Rural Divide The results of the referendums were split down urban-rural lines – most urban centers mandated to hold referendums backed Indigenous seats, while rural regions leaned strongly towards disestablishing 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 Concerns The recent local government elections registered the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with less than a third of eligible voters casting a vote, leading to demands for reform. The process had been “a mockery”. Comparative Treatment Councils are permitted to establish other types of electoral districts – including countryside seats – without first requiring a community ballot. The disparate requirements applied to Māori wards suggested the administration was singling out Indigenous inclusion. “Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Numerous localities have expressed strong opposition.” This remark referred to the 17 regions that voted to retain their seats.