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The count of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on NZ councils will be slashed by over 50%, after a divisive legislative amendment that forced municipal councils to submit the future of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which may have multiple elected officials depending on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to elect a assured Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, councils were only able to establish a Māori ward by initially putting it to a community referendum in their region. Local populations often spent years generating community backing and pushing their councils to establish Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government permitted local councils to set up a Māori ward without initially mandating them to put it to a public vote.

However, this year, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, stating communities ought to determine whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change mandated councils that had established a electoral district under the previous policy to hold binding referendums alongside the municipal polls, which concluded on October 11. Of 42 councils participating in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their wards, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

The results represented “a crucial move in reinstating community self-determination.”

Critics nevertheless have criticised the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the current administration has implemented sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has said it wants to terminate “race-based” policies, and asserts it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the public votes were split down urban-rural lines – most cities mandated to hold referendums supported Māori wards, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards removing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Concerns

This year’s municipal polls recorded the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with under one-third of eligible voters casting a vote, prompting calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are permitted to establish other types of wards – such as countryside seats – without first requiring a community ballot. The different conditions applied to Māori wards indicated the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.”

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