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The number of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on NZ councils is set to be cut by more than half, following a controversial legislative amendment that required municipal councils to submit the future of hard-won Māori seats to a public vote.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which may have multiple elected officials based on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to elect a guaranteed Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Originally, councils could only create 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 local governments to create Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the former administration allowed municipal authorities to set up a Māori ward without first requiring them to put it to a popular ballot.

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

Voting Outcomes

The new legislation mandated local authorities that had created a electoral district under Labour’s rules to conduct binding referendums alongside the local body elections, which ended on 11 October. Of 42 councils taking part in the public vote, 17 voted to keep their wards, and 25 to abolish theirs – showing numerous areas against guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes provided “a vital step in reinstating local democratic control.”

Opposition parties however have condemned the government’s law change as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the current administration has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to policies intended to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has said it aims to end “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is dedicated to enhancing results for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the public votes were split down urban-rural lines – most cities mandated to hold referendums backed Māori wards, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

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

Electoral Participation and Concerns

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

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are able to create different wards – such as countryside seats – without initially mandating a public vote. The disparate requirements placed on Māori wards suggested the administration was singling out Māori representation.

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

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