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The number of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on NZ local authorities will be slashed by over 50%, after a divisive legislative amendment that required municipal councils to put the future of hard-won Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include multiple elected officials based on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to give Māori electors the option to elect a guaranteed Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Initially, local governments could only create a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a public vote in their region. Local populations often devoted considerable time building community backing and urging their councils to create Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government permitted municipal authorities to set up a Māori ward without initially mandating them to subject it to a public vote.

However, this year, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, stating communities ought to determine whether to establish Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change mandated councils that had established a ward under Labour’s rules to hold binding referendums alongside the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the referendum, 17 voted to retain their wards, and 25 to disestablish theirs – showing many regions against guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes represented “a vital step in restoring 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 measures intended to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it aims to end “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the referendums were split down city-country divisions – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums backed Indigenous seats, while rural regions leaned strongly towards removing 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 local government elections registered the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with under one-third of eligible voters casting a vote, prompting demands for reform.

The process had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are permitted to create other types of electoral districts – such as countryside seats – without first requiring a community ballot. The different conditions applied to Māori wards indicated the administration was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

“Well, they failed. Many communities have given the government a middle finger response.”

This remark referred to the 17 areas that chose to keep their seats.