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The number of reserved seats for Indigenous council members on New Zealand councils is set to be cut by over 50%, following a divisive law change that forced municipal councils to put the future of hard-won Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include one or more councillors based on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the choice to elect a assured Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Originally, local governments were only able to establish a Māori ward by initially putting it to a community referendum in their region. Communities often devoted considerable time generating community backing and pushing their councils to create Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

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

However, this year, the current administration overturned the policy, stating communities should decide whether to introduce Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change mandated local authorities that had created a electoral district under Labour’s rules to conduct decisive public votes alongside the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments participating in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their wards, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing many regions opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

The results represented “a crucial move in reinstating local democratic control.”

Critics however have criticised the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the coalition government has implemented sweeping rollbacks to policies intended to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has said it aims to end “race-based” approaches, and says it is committed to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

The results of the referendums were divided down city-country divisions – six of the seven cities required to vote supported Māori wards, while rural regions leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Criticism

The recent local government elections registered the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with under one-third of eligible voters participating, prompting calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Councils are able to create different electoral districts – such as rural wards – without initially mandating a community ballot. The different conditions applied to Indigenous representation suggested the government was singling out Māori representation.

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

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