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The count of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on New Zealand local authorities will be slashed by over 50%, after a controversial law change that forced municipal councils to put the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which can include multiple elected officials depending on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to give Māori electors the option to vote for a guaranteed Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Initially, councils could only establish a Māori ward by first submitting it to a public vote in their area. Local populations frequently spent years building community backing and pushing their local governments to create Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the previous Labour government allowed local councils to set up a Māori ward without first requiring them to subject it to a public vote.

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

Referendum Results

The new legislation mandated local authorities that had created a electoral district under the previous policy to conduct decisive public votes concurrently with the municipal polls, which concluded on October 11. Out of 42 local governments participating in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their wards, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas against reserved Indigenous seats.

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

Critics nevertheless have criticised the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the current administration has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to policies intended to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has stated it wants to terminate “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is committed to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the public votes were split down urban-rural lines – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums supported Indigenous seats, while rural regions leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Concerns

The recent municipal polls registered the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with less than a third of eligible voters casting a vote, leading to demands for reform.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are permitted to establish other types of wards – including countryside seats – without first requiring a community ballot. The different conditions placed on Māori wards indicated the administration was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

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

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