🔗 Share this article

The count of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on New Zealand local authorities will be cut by over 50%, following a controversial legislative amendment that required municipal councils to put the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a public vote.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have one or more councillors depending on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to give Māori electors the option to vote for a guaranteed Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, councils could only establish a Indigenous seat by initially putting it to a community referendum in their region. Local populations often devoted considerable time generating local support and pushing their local governments to establish Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government permitted local councils to establish a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to put it to a public vote.

However, this year, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, stating communities should decide whether to establish Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change mandated local authorities that had created a electoral district under Labour’s rules to conduct binding referendums alongside the local body elections, which concluded on 11 October. Of 42 councils taking part in the referendum, 17 voted to retain their wards, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – revealing numerous areas against guaranteed Māori representation.

The results provided “a crucial move in restoring community self-determination.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have condemned the new policy as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has implemented extensive reversals to measures intended to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has said it wants to terminate “ethnic-specific” policies, and asserts it is committed to enhancing results for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

The results of the public votes were divided down city-country divisions – most urban centers mandated to hold referendums supported Māori wards, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards removing them.

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

Electoral Participation and Criticism

The recent municipal polls recorded the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with less than a third of eligible voters participating, prompting demands for reform.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are permitted to establish different wards – such as countryside seats – without first requiring a community ballot. The different conditions placed on Indigenous representation indicated the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

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

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