🔗 Share this article Reserved Māori Seats on New Zealand Local Governments to Be Slashed by More Than Half The count of reserved positions for Māori representatives on NZ councils is set to be cut by more than half, following a controversial legislative amendment that required municipal councils to put the future of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum. Background Information on Māori Wards Indigenous electoral districts, which may have multiple councillors depending on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to vote for a assured Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, councils were only able to create a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a public vote in their area. Local populations often spent years building community backing and pushing their local governments to establish Māori wards. Legislative Shifts and Government Actions To remedy the issue, the former administration allowed local councils to set up a Māori ward without initially mandating them to put it to a public vote. But in 2024, the current administration overturned the policy, saying communities should decide whether to establish Indigenous representation. Voting Outcomes The coalition’s law change required councils that had created a electoral district under Labour’s rules to hold decisive public votes concurrently with the local body elections, which ended on 11 October. Of 42 councils participating in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their seats, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas against reserved Indigenous seats. The results represented “a vital step in reinstating community self-determination.” Critics however have criticised the new policy as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the current administration has implemented extensive reversals to policies intended to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it wants to terminate “race-based” policies, and says it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders. Geographical Splits Outcomes of the referendums were split down urban-rural lines – six of the seven urban centers mandated to hold referendums backed Indigenous seats, while rural regions leaned strongly 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.” Voter Turnout and Concerns The recent local government elections recorded the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with less than a third of citizens participating, leading to calls for an overhaul. The process had been “a farce”. Comparative Treatment Councils are able to create other types of electoral districts – such as rural wards – without initially mandating a community ballot. The disparate requirements placed on Indigenous representation indicated the administration was targeting Indigenous inclusion. “Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Many communities have given the government a middle finger response.” This remark concerned the 17 regions that voted to retain their seats.