🔗 Share this article

The count of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on New Zealand councils is set to be cut by over 50%, following a controversial law change that forced local governments to submit the fate of hard-won Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which may have multiple elected officials depending on demographic data, were created in 2001 to provide Māori electors the option to vote for a assured Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, councils could only create a Māori ward by first putting it to a public vote in their area. Communities often devoted considerable time building local support and pushing their local governments to create Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government permitted local councils to establish a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to subject it to a public vote.

However, this year, the current administration reversed the change, stating communities should decide whether to introduce Māori wards.

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 municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments participating in the referendum, 17 voted to retain their wards, and 25 to disestablish theirs – showing numerous areas against reserved Indigenous seats.

The results represented “a vital step in restoring local democratic control.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have condemned the new policy as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the current administration has ushered in extensive reversals to measures intended to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has stated it wants to end “race-based” policies, and asserts it is dedicated to enhancing results for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the public votes were divided down urban-rural lines – most cities required to vote backed Māori wards, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards removing them.

“It’s a real shame for the Māori wards that had only just come in – they’re just beginning to find their footing.”

Electoral Participation and Criticism

This year’s municipal polls recorded the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with less than a third of eligible voters participating, leading to calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are able to create different wards – including countryside seats – without first requiring a community ballot. The different conditions placed on Indigenous representation suggested the government was targeting Māori representation.

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

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