🔗 Share this article

The number of guaranteed seats for Indigenous council members on New Zealand local authorities is set to be slashed by over 50%, after a divisive law change that forced local governments to submit the future of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have one or more councillors based on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the choice to elect a guaranteed Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Initially, local governments could only establish a Māori ward by first putting it to a community referendum in their area. Communities frequently devoted considerable time building local support and pushing their councils to establish Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government allowed 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 reversed the change, stating local residents ought to determine whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change required councils that had established a electoral district under Labour’s rules to hold decisive public votes alongside the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments participating in the referendum, 17 decided to retain their seats, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas against reserved Indigenous seats.

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

Opposition parties however have condemned the new policy as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the current administration has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to measures designed to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has stated it wants to end “race-based” approaches, and asserts it is dedicated to enhancing results for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the public votes were split down city-country divisions – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums supported Māori wards, while rural regions leaned strongly towards removing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Indigenous seats that had only just come in – they’re only just starting to hit their stride.”

Electoral Participation and Criticism

The recent municipal polls recorded 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 mockery”.

Differential Standards

Councils are able to establish different wards – including countryside seats – without initially mandating a public vote. The different conditions placed on Māori wards suggested the administration was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Many communities have given the government a middle finger response.”

This statement referred to the 17 areas that chose to keep their wards.