🔗 Share this article

The number of reserved seats for Māori representatives on New Zealand local authorities will be cut by over 50%, following a controversial law change that required municipal councils to submit the future of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have multiple elected officials depending on demographic data, were established in 2001 to give Māori electors the option to vote for a guaranteed Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, local governments could only create a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a community referendum in their area. Communities frequently devoted considerable time building community backing and urging their local governments to establish Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To address this concern, the previous Labour government permitted municipal authorities to establish a Māori ward without first requiring them to subject it to a popular ballot.

However, this year, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, stating local residents ought to determine whether to establish Māori wards.

Voting Outcomes

The new legislation mandated councils that had established a electoral district under Labour’s rules to conduct decisive public votes alongside the local body elections, which concluded on 11 October. Of 42 councils taking part in the public vote, 17 decided to retain their wards, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – revealing many regions against reserved Indigenous seats.

These outcomes represented “a vital step in restoring local democratic control.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have condemned the government’s law change as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the current administration has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to measures designed to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it aims to end “race-based” approaches, and asserts it is committed to enhancing results for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the public votes were divided down city-country divisions – most urban centers required to vote backed 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 only just starting to hit their stride.”

Electoral Participation and Concerns

This year’s municipal polls recorded the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with under one-third of citizens participating, leading to demands for reform.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Councils are able to create different wards – including rural wards – without initially mandating a public vote. The different conditions placed on Indigenous representation suggested the government was singling out Māori representation.

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

This statement referred to the 17 regions that voted to retain their wards.