Government to remove voting rights from iwi representatives on council

Tuesday, 2 June 2026

The Government is introducing a law amendment to remove voting rights and quorum status from non-elected representatives on council committees.

The law change follows questions raised over the voting rights of iwi representatives on the Far North District Council, alongside similar appointments in Tauranga and Hastings.

The public will not have the opportunity to submit on these changes because the amendment is being made to a bill that has already reported back from select committee.

Once the legislation is passed, local councils will have a six-month window to review their appointments before the new rules officially take effect.

The Government is removing voting rights for non-elected representatives on councils following questions raised over iwi representatives on the Far North district council.

In April, Far North councillors voted to uphold the voting rights of iwi representatives on its Te Kuaka Māori Strategic Relationships Committee.

The Government has stepped in over the top to effectively remove the right of councils to do so.

“Councils and the public nationwide have raised concerns about individuals holding voting rights on council committees, undermining decision-making and diluting the influence of democratically elected members,” Local Government Minister Simon Watts said in a statement announcing the change.

“We’ve seen examples in the Far North, in Tauranga and in Hastings where individuals, such as iwi representatives and young people aged under 18, have been appointed to council committees and given voting rights without being elected by the community.”

“That’s not democratic, so we’re fixing it.”

The Government will be making an amendment to the Local Government (System Improvements) Bill, which is currently making its way through parliament.

The bill has already reported back from select committee meaning the public will not be given the opportunity to submit on the changes announced today.

“Councils can still appoint non-elected members to offer professional advice and represent communities but those appointments will not come with voting rights or count towards a quorum,” Watts said.

The ACT Party is claiming credit for the law change. ACT Far North councillor Davina Smolders had been vocally opposed to increasing iwi representation, leading to ACT MP Cameron Luxton drafting a members bill on the issue.

“Today is a massive win for ratepayers and local democracy. ACT has been pushing hard to close this anti-democratic loophole,” Luxton said on Tuesday.

Responding to calls for intervention over the issue in April, Watts had said there was no need.

“The local council and its members are locally elected, it’s not for Wellington to go intervene every time they do something I don’t personally agree with. Given the high statutory threshold required for such powers, I am advised that the council’s current actions do not constitute formal ministerial intervention at this time,” he said to RNZ at the time.

“I have, however, asked officials to engage with the council and report back to me if they identify any concerns or issues that warrant further investigation.”

Watts said on Tuesday that once the law is passed councils will have six months to review their appointments before the law change takes effect.