[2][3] In late July 2024, the National-led coalition government passed legislation reinstating the poll provisions on the establishment or ongoing use of Māori wards.

[11][12][13][14] By November 2020, nine further councils had agreed to introduce Māori wards or constituencies in Gisborne, Kaipara, New Plymouth, Ruapehu, South Taranaki, Tauranga, Taupō, Whangārei and the Northland Region.

[23] On 10 February, the Chairperson of Parliament's Māori Affairs Committee issued an invitation for public submissions on the Local Electoral Amendment Bill.

[29] Councils undertook representation reviews through 2021 and 2022 resulting in the creation of 66 positions for councillors to be elected from Māori wards or constituencies.

[30] In late November 2023, the Sixth National Government pledged to "restore the right of local referendum on the establishment or ongoing use of Māori wards.

Brown also announced that the government would introduce legislation restoring the right to referenda on Māori wards by the end of July 2024.

In response, Brown along with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters and ACT Party David Seymour defended the proposed legislation as a restoration of local democracy.

Under the new legislation, councils that have already established a Māori ward without a referendum would be required to hold a binding poll during the 2025 New Zealand local elections or to disestablish them.

[37] While National, ACT and NZ First supported the bill as part of their coalition agreements, it was opposed by the Labour, Green, and Māori parties.