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The count of reserved seats for Indigenous council members on New Zealand local authorities is set to be slashed by more than half, after a controversial legislative amendment that forced local governments to submit the future of hard-earned Māori seats to a public vote.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which may have multiple councillors depending on demographic data, were established in 2001 to give Māori electors the option to vote for a guaranteed Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Originally, councils were only able to create a Māori ward by first submitting it to a community referendum in their area. Communities often spent years building community backing and pushing their local governments to establish Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the previous Labour government allowed local councils to establish a Māori ward without initially mandating them to subject it to a popular ballot.

But in 2024, the current administration reversed the change, saying communities ought to determine whether to introduce Māori wards.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change required councils that had created a ward under Labour’s rules to hold binding referendums alongside the municipal polls, which ended on October 11. Of 42 councils taking part in the public vote, 17 voted to retain their wards, and 25 to disestablish theirs – showing many regions against guaranteed Māori representation.

The results provided “a crucial move in restoring community self-determination.”

Critics however have criticised the government’s law change as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the current administration has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to measures intended to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has stated it wants to end “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is dedicated to enhancing results for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the public votes were split down urban-rural lines – most urban centers required to vote backed Māori wards, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards removing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Indigenous seats that had recently been established – they’re just beginning to find their footing.”

Electoral Participation and Concerns

This year’s municipal polls registered the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with less than a third of citizens casting a vote, leading to calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are able to create different wards – such as rural wards – without initially mandating a public vote. The different conditions applied to Māori wards suggested the administration was singling out Māori representation.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.”

This remark concerned the 17 regions that chose to keep their wards.