🔗 Share this article

The count of guaranteed seats for Māori representatives on NZ local authorities will be cut by over 50%, after a divisive legislative amendment that forced municipal councils to submit the future of hard-won Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have one or more elected officials based on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to vote for a assured Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, councils could only establish a Indigenous seat by first putting it to a public vote in their region. Communities frequently spent years generating community backing and pushing their local governments to create Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government allowed local councils to set up a Māori ward without initially mandating them to put it to a popular ballot.

However, this year, the current administration reversed the change, stating communities ought to determine whether to establish Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change mandated local authorities that had established a electoral district under Labour’s rules to hold decisive public votes alongside the local body elections, which ended on October 11. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their wards, and 25 to disestablish theirs – showing numerous areas opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

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

Opposition parties however have criticised the new policy as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the coalition government has implemented sweeping rollbacks to policies intended to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has stated it wants to terminate “race-based” policies, and asserts it is committed to improving outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the public votes were divided down city-country divisions – most cities required to vote backed Māori wards, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Māori wards that had recently been established – they’re just beginning to hit their stride.”

Voter Turnout and Criticism

This year’s local government elections registered the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with less than a third of eligible voters casting a vote, leading to calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are able to establish different wards – such as countryside seats – without initially mandating a public vote. The disparate requirements placed on Māori wards suggested the government was targeting Māori representation.

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

This statement concerned the 17 areas that voted to keep their wards.