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The number of guaranteed seats for Indigenous council members on New Zealand local authorities is set to be slashed by more than half, following a divisive legislative amendment that required local governments to submit the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a public vote.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include one or more councillors based on demographic data, were created in 2001 to provide Māori electors the option to elect a guaranteed Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, local governments were only able to create a Indigenous seat by first putting it to a community referendum in their region. Local populations frequently spent years generating local support and urging their councils to create Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the former administration permitted local councils to set up a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to put it to a popular ballot.

However, this year, the current administration overturned the policy, saying communities ought to determine whether to introduce Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required local authorities that had created a electoral district under Labour’s rules to conduct decisive public votes concurrently with the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Of 42 councils participating in the public vote, 17 voted to retain their wards, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – showing many regions against reserved Indigenous seats.

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

Critics however have criticised the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the coalition government has implemented extensive reversals to policies designed to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has stated it wants to terminate “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is dedicated to enhancing results for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the public votes were divided down city-country divisions – most urban centers required to vote supported Māori wards, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards removing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Concerns

The recent municipal polls registered the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with under one-third of eligible voters casting a vote, leading to calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are able to establish different wards – including countryside seats – without first requiring a public vote. The different conditions applied to Māori wards indicated the administration was targeting Māori representation.

“Well, they failed. Numerous localities have expressed strong opposition.”

This statement concerned the 17 regions that chose to retain their seats.