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The number of guaranteed seats for Indigenous council members on NZ councils is set to be cut by over 50%, following a divisive legislative amendment that forced local governments to submit the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which may have one or more elected officials based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to give Māori electors the choice to elect a guaranteed Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, local governments could only establish a Indigenous seat by first submitting it to a public vote in their region. Local populations often devoted considerable time generating community backing and pushing their local governments to establish Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To address this concern, the previous Labour government permitted municipal authorities to set up a Māori ward without first requiring them to subject it to a public vote.

However, this year, the current administration overturned the policy, saying communities ought to determine whether to establish Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change mandated councils that had created a electoral district under the previous policy to hold decisive public votes concurrently with the municipal polls, which concluded on October 11. Out of 42 local governments participating in the public vote, 17 voted to keep their seats, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – revealing numerous areas against reserved Indigenous seats.

These outcomes provided “a crucial move in reinstating community self-determination.”

Critics however have condemned the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the current administration has implemented sweeping rollbacks to measures designed to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has stated it wants to end “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the referendums were divided down urban-rural lines – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums supported Indigenous seats, while rural regions skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Indigenous seats that had only just come in – they’re only just starting to find their footing.”

Electoral Participation and Criticism

The recent local government elections recorded the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with less than a third of citizens participating, prompting calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are permitted to create different wards – including countryside seats – without first requiring a public vote. The different conditions applied to Māori wards indicated the administration was singling out Māori representation.

“Well, they failed. Many communities have expressed strong opposition.”

This remark referred to the 17 areas that chose to keep their wards.