🔗 Share this article Reserved Indigenous Seats on New Zealand Local Governments to Be Slashed by More Than Half The number of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on New Zealand local authorities is set to be slashed by over 50%, after a controversial law change that required municipal councils to put 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 created in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the choice to elect a guaranteed Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Originally, local governments could only establish a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a public vote in their region. Communities frequently spent years generating local support and urging their councils to establish Indigenous representation. Policy Changes and Government Actions To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government permitted municipal authorities to set up a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to subject it to a public vote. However, this year, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, stating local residents should decide whether to establish Indigenous representation. Voting Outcomes The coalition’s law change mandated local authorities that had created a ward under the previous policy to hold decisive public votes concurrently with the municipal polls, which concluded on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their seats, and 25 to abolish theirs – showing many regions against reserved Indigenous seats. The results provided “a vital step in restoring community self-determination.” Critics however have criticised the new policy as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the coalition government has implemented sweeping rollbacks to measures designed to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has said it wants to terminate “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is dedicated to enhancing results for Indigenous people and every citizen. Geographical Splits The results of the public votes were divided down city-country divisions – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums backed Indigenous seats, while rural regions leaned strongly towards removing them. “It's unfortunate for the Māori wards that had only just come in – they’re only just starting to hit their stride.” Electoral Participation and Criticism This year’s municipal polls registered the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with under one-third of citizens participating, leading to demands for reform. The process had been “a mockery”. Comparative Treatment Councils are permitted to establish different wards – such as countryside seats – without first requiring a public vote. The disparate requirements applied to Māori wards indicated the administration was singling out Māori representation. “Well, they failed. Many communities have given the government a middle finger response.” This statement referred to the 17 regions that chose to retain their wards.