🔗 Share this article

The number of guaranteed positions for Māori representatives on NZ councils will be slashed by more than half, following a controversial legislative amendment that required municipal councils to submit the fate of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which can include one or more councillors based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to vote for a assured Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Initially, local governments were only able to create a Indigenous seat by first submitting it to a community referendum in their area. Local populations frequently devoted considerable time building local support and urging their councils to create Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the former administration permitted municipal authorities to set up a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to subject it to a public vote.

However, this year, the current administration overturned the policy, stating communities ought to determine whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The new legislation required councils that had created a electoral district under Labour’s rules to conduct decisive public votes alongside the municipal polls, which ended on October 11. Of 42 councils taking part in the referendum, 17 voted to keep their seats, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing many regions opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

The results represented “a crucial move in reinstating local democratic control.”

Critics however have condemned the government’s law change as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to measures designed to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has stated it wants to end “race-based” policies, and says it is dedicated to enhancing results for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

The results of the public votes were divided down urban-rural lines – six of the seven urban centers mandated to hold referendums supported Māori wards, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

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

Electoral Participation and Concerns

This year’s local government elections registered the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with under one-third of citizens casting a vote, prompting demands for reform.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are able to establish other types of wards – including rural wards – without initially mandating a public vote. The different conditions applied to Māori wards suggested the administration was targeting Māori representation.

“Well, they failed. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.”

This statement referred to the 17 areas that voted to keep their seats.