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The number of guaranteed seats for Māori representatives on NZ councils will be slashed by over 50%, following a divisive legislative amendment that forced municipal councils to submit the fate of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which may have one or more elected officials depending on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the option to elect a guaranteed Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, local governments were only able to create a Indigenous seat by initially putting it to a public vote in their area. Communities often spent years building local support and pushing their councils to create Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the previous Labour government allowed local councils to establish a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to subject it to a popular ballot.

However, this year, the current administration reversed the change, stating communities ought to determine whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required local authorities that had established a ward under the previous policy to hold binding referendums alongside the local body elections, which ended on 11 October. Of 42 councils taking part in the public vote, 17 voted to retain their seats, and 25 to disestablish theirs – revealing many regions against reserved Indigenous seats.

These outcomes represented “a crucial move in reinstating local democratic control.”

Critics however have criticised the new policy as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the current administration has ushered in extensive reversals to measures designed to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it aims to end “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is committed to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the referendums were split down city-country divisions – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums backed Māori wards, while rural regions skewed heavily towards removing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Criticism

The recent municipal polls registered the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with less than a third of eligible voters casting a vote, leading to demands for reform.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are permitted to create other types of electoral districts – including rural wards – without first requiring a community ballot. The disparate requirements applied to Māori wards suggested the administration was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Numerous localities have expressed strong opposition.”

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