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The count of reserved positions for Māori representatives on NZ councils will be cut by more than half, after a divisive legislative amendment that forced municipal councils to submit the fate of hard-won Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which can include one or more elected officials based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Māori electors the choice to vote for a assured Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Originally, local governments could only establish a Indigenous seat by first submitting it to a community referendum in their region. Communities often spent years building community backing and pushing their local governments to establish Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the former administration allowed municipal authorities to establish a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to put it to a public vote.

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

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change mandated local authorities that had established a electoral district under the previous policy to hold decisive public votes concurrently with the local body elections, which concluded on October 11. Of 42 councils participating in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their seats, and 25 to disestablish theirs – revealing many regions opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

These outcomes represented “a vital step in restoring community self-determination.”

Opposition parties however have criticised the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the coalition government has ushered in extensive reversals to policies designed to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has stated it wants to end “race-based” approaches, and says it is committed to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the referendums were divided down urban-rural lines – most cities mandated to hold referendums backed Indigenous seats, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards removing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Concerns

This year’s local government elections recorded the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with under one-third of eligible voters participating, leading to calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are able to create different wards – including rural wards – without first requiring a public vote. The different conditions placed on Māori wards suggested the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

“Well, they failed. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.”

This remark concerned the 17 areas that voted to keep their wards.