A former local government minister says the coalition government’s decision to enforce referendums on Māori Wards is “undemocratic” and a “sad day of democracy.”

The 2025 local elections will see referendums held for every Māori ward set up in the past few years, with the government giving councils the ultimatum of a referendum or scrapping the ward.

Sandra Lee Vercoe, who served as the 10th Minister of Local Government, said the government is winding back the clock and “yet again putting Māori on the outside looking in.”

“From the get-go from this government, they have made it very clear that they want to absolutely marginalise the voice of their Treaty partner.