🔗 Share this article Guaranteed Indigenous Seats on NZ Local Governments to Be Slashed by More Than Half The number of reserved seats for Indigenous council members on New Zealand councils is set to be slashed by more than half, after a controversial law change that required municipal councils to submit the future of hard-won Māori seats to a popular referendum. Historical Context on Indigenous Representation Indigenous electoral districts, which can include one or more councillors based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the choice to vote for a assured Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, councils could only create a Indigenous seat by first putting it to a public vote in their area. Local populations frequently devoted considerable time generating community backing and pushing their councils to create Indigenous representation. Policy Changes and Government Actions To address this concern, the former administration allowed local councils to establish a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to put it to a public vote. But in 2024, the current administration reversed the change, stating local residents ought to determine whether to introduce Māori wards. Referendum Results The new legislation required councils that had established a electoral district under the previous policy to conduct decisive public votes alongside the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the referendum, 17 voted to keep their seats, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas against guaranteed Māori representation. These outcomes represented “a vital step in restoring local democratic control.” Critics however have condemned the new policy as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the current administration has implemented extensive reversals to measures intended to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it aims to terminate “race-based” policies, 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 urban centers mandated to hold referendums supported 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.” Voter Turnout and Concerns This year’s local government elections registered the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with under one-third of citizens participating, leading to calls for an overhaul. This approach had been “a farce”. Differential Standards Councils are permitted to create different wards – such as countryside seats – without initially mandating a community ballot. The disparate requirements applied to Indigenous representation suggested the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion. “Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Many communities have given the government a middle finger response.” This statement referred to the 17 areas that voted to keep their wards.