Over the past three years, over 40 councils across New Zealand have introduced Māori wards without first seeking a public mandate. The Coalition Government believes such decisions should rest with local communities.
As part of the National–ACT–NZ First coalition agreements, the Government has restored the right to hold local referendums on Māori wards through the Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2024, which took effect on 30 July 2024.
Under the amended law, councils that established Māori wards after the 2021 changes without a public poll must now hold one at the 2025 local elections, unless they reverse their earlier decision. In total, 42 councils nationwide will be holding referendums on Māori wards or Māori constituencies. Bottom of FormThese councils are:
Central Hawke’s Bay District Council
Far North District Council
Gisborne District Council
Hamilton City Council
Hastings District Council
Hauraki District Council
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council
Manawatū-Whanganui Regional Council (Horizons Regional Council)
Horowhenua District Council
Hutt City Council
Kāpiti Coast District Council
Kawerau District Council
Manawatū District Council
Masterton District Council
New Plymouth District Council
Marlborough District Council
Matamata-Piako District Council
Napier City Council
Nelson City Council
Northland Regional Council
Ōtorohanga District Council
Porirua City Council
Palmerston North City Council
Rangitikei District Council
Rotorua District Council
Ruapehu District Council
South Taranaki District Council
South Wairarapa District Council
Stratford District Council
Taranaki Regional Council
Tararua District Council
Tasman District Council
Taupo District Council
Thames-Coromandel District Council
Waikato District Council
Waipa District Council
Wellington City Council
Wellington Region (Greater Wellington Regional Council)
Whakatāne District Council
Whanganui District Council
Whangārei District Council
Western Bay of Plenty District Council
Further information on Maori wards is available HERE.
The case against race-based seats
- Creating race-based seats divides communities and entrenches separatism. Māori wards reinforce division by institutionalising race-based decision-making. This inevitably leads to the polarisation of both accountability and responsibility.
- Although Māori ward councillors may take an oath to work in the best interests of all people, being elected solely from the Māori roll inevitably creates pressure to prioritise Māori interests rather than what is in the collective general interest of the electorate at large.
- In many councils, the number of Māori enrolled to vote in a Māori ward is significantly less than the number of general electors in a regular ward. As a result, each Māori vote carries more weight, giving Māori roll voters disproportionate influence in local council decisions. This contradicts the principle of equal political rights – the foundation of democracy.
- Māori already enjoy full democratic rights, with no legal barriers to voting or standing for office. Dedicated Māori wards are therefore unnecessary, as Māori have the same opportunities to participate as all other New Zealanders.
- Māori Wards are not required for the fulfilment of obligations owed to Māori under the Treaty and local government law.
References
Franks Ogilvie: Explainer: Māori Wards
Opinions
Dr Muriel Newman:
- The State of Local Government, in which Dr Newman makes the case for the removal of Maori wards and advisory groups with voting rights from councils.
- A Critical Decision
- Labour’s Divisive Legacy