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The number of reserved seats for Māori representatives on NZ councils will be cut by more than half, following a controversial legislative amendment that forced local governments to put the future of hard-won Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have one or more elected officials based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the choice to elect a guaranteed Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, local governments could only create a Indigenous seat by initially putting it to a community referendum in their area. Local populations often spent years building community backing and pushing their councils to create Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

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

However, this year, the current administration overturned the policy, saying local residents ought to determine whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The new legislation mandated councils that had created a electoral district under the previous policy to hold binding referendums alongside the local body elections, which ended on 11 October. Of 42 councils participating in the public vote, 17 decided to retain their wards, and 25 to disestablish theirs – revealing many regions against reserved Indigenous seats.

The results represented “a vital step in restoring community self-determination.”

Critics nevertheless have criticised the government’s law change as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has said it aims to terminate “race-based” policies, and asserts it is dedicated to enhancing results for Māori and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the referendums were divided down urban-rural lines – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums backed Māori wards, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Criticism

The recent municipal polls recorded the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with less than a third of eligible voters participating, prompting calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are permitted to establish other types of electoral districts – such as rural wards – without first requiring a public vote. The different conditions applied to Indigenous representation suggested the government was singling out Māori representation.

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

This statement concerned the 17 areas that voted to retain their seats.