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The count of reserved seats for Indigenous council members on NZ local authorities will be slashed by more than half, following a controversial legislative amendment that forced local governments to put the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a public vote.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which may have one or more councillors depending on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to vote for a assured Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Originally, councils could only create a Māori ward by first submitting it to a community referendum in their region. Communities often spent years building local support and urging their councils to create Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To address this concern, the previous Labour government permitted local councils to set up a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to put it to a public vote.

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

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change mandated local authorities that had created a electoral district under Labour’s rules to conduct binding referendums concurrently with the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments participating in the referendum, 17 voted to retain their wards, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes provided “a crucial move in reinstating local democratic control.”

Critics nevertheless have condemned the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the coalition government has implemented sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has said it aims to end “race-based” policies, and says it is committed to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the referendums were divided down city-country divisions – most cities mandated to hold referendums supported Māori wards, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

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

Electoral Participation and Criticism

The recent local government elections recorded the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with less than a third of eligible voters casting a vote, leading to demands for reform.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are permitted to create other types of wards – including rural wards – without first requiring a public vote. The disparate requirements applied to Indigenous representation suggested the government was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

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

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