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The number of guaranteed seats for Māori representatives on NZ councils will be slashed by more than half, after a controversial legislative amendment that required municipal councils to put the fate of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include multiple elected officials based on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to provide Māori electors the choice to elect a guaranteed Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, local governments were only able to establish a Māori ward by first putting it to a public vote in their area. Communities often spent years building community backing and pushing their councils to establish Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the former administration permitted local councils to establish a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to subject it to a popular ballot.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, stating local residents ought to determine whether to introduce Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required councils that had established a electoral district under Labour’s rules to hold binding referendums alongside the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. 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 against guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes represented “a crucial move in restoring local democratic control.”

Opposition parties however have condemned the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the current administration has implemented extensive reversals to policies designed to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it aims to end “ethnic-specific” approaches, and asserts it is committed to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the public votes were divided down urban-rural lines – most cities mandated to hold referendums backed Indigenous seats, while rural regions skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

“It’s a real shame for the Indigenous seats that had recently been established – they’re only just starting to find their footing.”

Electoral Participation and Concerns

The recent local government elections recorded the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with under one-third of citizens casting a vote, prompting demands for reform.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are permitted to create different electoral districts – including rural wards – without initially mandating a community ballot. The disparate requirements applied to Indigenous representation suggested the government was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

“Well, they failed. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.”

This statement referred to the 17 areas that chose to retain their seats.