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The number of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on NZ councils is set to be cut by more than half, following a controversial legislative amendment that forced municipal councils to submit the future of hard-won Māori seats to a public vote.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have multiple councillors based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Māori electors the option to vote for a guaranteed Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Originally, local governments could only create a Māori ward by first submitting it to a community referendum in their region. Local populations often devoted considerable time building community backing and urging their local governments to establish Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To address this concern, the previous Labour government allowed municipal authorities to establish a Māori ward without initially mandating them to put it to a popular ballot.

However, this year, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, saying communities should decide whether to establish Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required local authorities that had created a electoral district under the previous policy to conduct binding referendums concurrently with the local body elections, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the public vote, 17 voted to retain their seats, and 25 to abolish theirs – showing numerous areas against guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes provided “a vital step in reinstating local democratic control.”

Critics however have condemned the government’s law change as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the current administration has ushered in extensive reversals to measures intended to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has said it wants to end “ethnic-specific” policies, and asserts it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the public votes were divided down city-country divisions – six of the seven urban centers required to vote backed Māori wards, while rural regions skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

“It’s a real shame for the Indigenous seats that had only just come in – they’re only just starting to hit their stride.”

Voter Turnout and Concerns

The recent local government elections recorded the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with less than a third of citizens casting a vote, prompting demands for reform.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Councils are permitted to establish different wards – including countryside seats – without first requiring a public vote. The disparate requirements applied to Indigenous representation suggested the government was targeting Māori representation.

“Well, they failed. Many communities have given the government a middle finger response.”

This statement referred to the 17 areas that chose to retain their wards.