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The number of guaranteed seats for Indigenous council members on NZ local authorities is set to be slashed by over 50%, after a divisive law change that required local governments to submit the fate of hard-won Māori seats to a public vote.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have multiple councillors depending on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to give Māori electors the choice to vote for a assured Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, councils could only create a Indigenous seat by initially submitting it to a public vote in their region. Communities often devoted considerable time building local support and urging their councils to establish Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To address this concern, the former administration permitted local councils to set up a Māori ward without initially mandating them to put it to a public vote.

However, this year, the current administration reversed the change, saying local residents should decide whether to establish Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required local authorities that had created a ward under the previous policy to conduct decisive public votes concurrently with the local body elections, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments participating in the public vote, 17 voted to keep their wards, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – showing numerous areas against reserved Indigenous seats.

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

Critics nevertheless have criticised the government’s law change as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has implemented extensive reversals to measures designed to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has said it wants to end “ethnic-specific” policies, and says it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

The results of the public votes were divided down city-country divisions – six of the seven urban centers mandated to hold referendums supported Māori wards, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards disestablishing 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 Concerns

This year’s local government elections registered the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with under one-third of citizens participating, leading to demands for reform.

The process had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are able to establish different electoral districts – such as rural wards – without first requiring a community ballot. The different conditions placed on Māori wards indicated the administration was singling out Māori representation.

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

This remark referred to the 17 regions that voted to keep their seats.