🔗 Share this article Reserved Indigenous Seats on NZ Councils to Be Slashed by Over 50% The count of reserved seats for Indigenous council members on NZ councils will be slashed by more than half, following a divisive legislative amendment that forced municipal councils to put the future of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum. Historical Context on Māori Wards Indigenous electoral districts, which may have multiple councillors based on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the option to vote for a assured Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, councils were only able to establish a Māori ward by initially putting it to a public vote in their region. Communities frequently devoted considerable time generating local support and urging their councils to create Māori wards. Legislative Shifts and Government Actions To address this concern, the former administration permitted municipal authorities to set up a Māori ward without first requiring them to put it to a public vote. But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, saying local residents should decide whether to introduce Indigenous representation. Voting Outcomes The coalition’s law change required councils that had established a ward under Labour’s rules to hold binding referendums alongside the local body elections, which concluded on October 11. Of 42 councils participating in the referendum, 17 voted to keep their seats, and 25 to disestablish theirs – revealing many regions against reserved Indigenous seats. These outcomes represented “a crucial move in restoring community self-determination.” Opposition parties nevertheless have condemned the government’s law change as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the current administration 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 asserts it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen. Geographical Splits Outcomes of the public votes were split down city-country divisions – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums backed Indigenous seats, while rural regions skewed heavily towards disestablishing them. “It's unfortunate for the Indigenous seats that had recently been established – they’re just beginning to hit their stride.” Electoral Participation and Criticism This year’s municipal polls recorded the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with less than a third of citizens casting a vote, prompting calls for an overhaul. The process had been “a farce”. Comparative Treatment Councils are permitted to establish different electoral districts – including rural wards – without initially mandating a community ballot. The disparate requirements applied to Indigenous representation indicated the government was singling out Indigenous inclusion. “Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.” This remark concerned the 17 areas that voted to keep their seats.