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The number of guaranteed seats for Māori representatives on NZ local authorities will be slashed by more than half, after a controversial legislative amendment that forced local governments to submit the fate of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include one or more elected officials based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the choice to elect a guaranteed Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Initially, local governments could only establish a Māori ward by first submitting it to a public vote in their region. Communities frequently spent years generating local support and urging their councils to create Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To address this concern, the previous Labour government allowed local councils to establish a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to put it to a popular ballot.

However, this year, the current administration reversed the change, saying local residents ought to determine whether to establish Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required councils that had created a ward under Labour’s rules to hold decisive public votes concurrently with the municipal polls, which ended on October 11. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their wards, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – showing many regions opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

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

Opposition parties nevertheless have criticised the new policy as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the current administration has implemented sweeping rollbacks to measures intended to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has said it wants to terminate “race-based” policies, and says it is dedicated to enhancing results for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the referendums were divided down urban-rural lines – most cities mandated to hold referendums supported Indigenous seats, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards removing them.

“It’s a real shame for the Māori wards that had recently been established – they’re only just starting to hit their stride.”

Voter Turnout and Criticism

This year’s municipal polls recorded the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with less than a third of eligible voters participating, prompting calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are able to establish other types of electoral districts – such as rural wards – without first requiring a public vote. The disparate requirements applied to Māori wards suggested the administration was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

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

This remark referred to the 17 areas that chose to keep their wards.